Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Dorothy Thorpe glassware was a chic staple of every mid-century modern wet bar, particularly her festive Roly Poly silver-banded tumblers. Although not as widely known as such contemporaries as Eva Zeisel and Edith Heath, Thorpe was one of a group of creative and entrepreneurial women whose designs captured the imagination of the postwar homeowner with her modern and cheery works.
Thorpe was born in Salt Lake City in 1901 and settled in Los Angeles as a young woman. She began creating her signature glassware using the trade name Dorothy Thorpe Originals in the 1930s. Thorpe was a designer, not a glassblower. To create her shimmering wares, she purchased glass blanks from a variety of manufacturers and subjected them to various techniques, including sandblasting, etching and silver overlay.
Initially Art Deco in style, the pieces were signed with a large T and smaller D. Thorpe also worked in ceramics and, in the 1940s, with Lucite, producing a line of household items, such as magazine racks, sculptural lamps, candlesticks and umbrella stands.
After World War II, Thorpe was inspired by a new interest in the flowers and animals of the South Pacific and began incorporating tropical floral motifs into her work. She traveled to Hawaii and studied local irises, roses, azaleas, narcissus and eucalyptus. The decorative patterns based on these studies were created primarily by sandblasting, which makes a glass surface appear frosted.
From the 1930s through the ’50s, Thorpe’s designs won her many fans among the members of café society, including Princess Grace of Monaco and the Shah of Iran. They were also widely imitated. Vintage tumblers that bear a silver stripe around the rim but lack the “DT” signature on the bottom are not Thorpe originals.
In the 1950s, Thorpe created the glassware line Atomic Splash, which featured the energetic geometric patterns that were so popular at the time. Atomic Splash patterned drinking glasses and serving dishes bore a silver overlay that evoked an explosion.
Thorpe also designed a line of ceramic tableware decorated with a wreath of spring flowers in collaboration with Crown Lynn Pottery, in New Zealand, and, in the mid-’60s, created coffee sets for the Santa Barbara and Monterey companies. Among her own ceramics products were lines glazed in the eye-catching shades of Orange Persimmon and Blue Periwinkle.
Find vintage Dorothy Thorpe glasses and tableware for sale on 1stDibs.
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Resin
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Resin
Mid-20th Century Central American Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Lucite
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Glass, Art Glass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Brass, Copper, Iron
1970s Italian Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Ceramic
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Metal
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Metal
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Lucite
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Resin
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Murano Glass
1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Resin
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Lucite
1950s American Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Chrome
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Resin
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Busts
Acrylic
Dorothy Thorpe busts for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify Dorothy Thorpe glassware, look for her signature. It appears on all sandblasted glassware, as well as some other pieces. The signature should consist of a small D and a larger T. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Dorothy Thorpe on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024No, not all Dorothy Thorpe glasses are marked. While some of her pieces feature her signature, which consists of a large D followed by a smaller T, many do not. If you're unable to find a marking on a particular glass, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer for assistance with identification. Shop a collection of Dorothy Thorpe glasses on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024How you clean Dorothy Thorpe glassware varies. For most pieces, experts recommend using a gentle dish soap, warm water and a soft sponge. After washing, be sure to dry the glassware thoroughly with a soft microfiber dishcloth. For pieces trimmed in silver, you can typically utilize silver polish to remove tarnishing. However, check the labels of all cleaning products to ensure that they are safe for use on glassware. Find a selection of Dorothy Thorpe serveware and glass on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 9, 2024To tell if a glass is Dorothy Thorpe, examine the base or interior for the maker's mark. It is a large “D” followed by a small “T.” Many pieces will have the marking sandblasted onto the glass, but others may feature paper labels. Because these paper labels may detach with usage, authentic Dorothy Thorpe glassware can be missing the maker's markings. As a result, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer aid you with the identification process. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Dorothy Thorpe glasses.