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.
Rare Allegro Glass Pitcher by Dorothy Thorpe Mid Century Silver Ring
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare glass pitcher by Dorothy Thorpe part of the Allegro line , the silver ring shows wear due to age and patina .
Silver Leaf
Set of Allegro Glass Pitcher & 4 Glasses by Dorothy Thorpe Mid Century
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare glass pitcher and 4 glasses by Dorothy Thorpe part of the Allegro line , the silver ring shows wear due to age and patina .
Silver Leaf
"Dorothy Thorpe Vintage Glass Tray, Antiqued Gold on Crystal, 1960s"
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe tray Antiqued Gold on Crystal, in good condition, circa 1960.
Silver
$2,500 / set
H 15.36 in W 7.09 in D 6.7 in
1960s Mid-Century Italian Pink Cased Empoli Glass Pitchers Vases Apothecary Jars
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very pretty set of seven 1960s Italian Empoli Rossini and Stelvio Opalina Fiorentina cased glass vases, decanters and candy or apothecary jars. In sweet baby pink tone colours. A pretty mixture of different shades, shapes and styles and in clear and cased glass. Measurements from highest to lowest: Large blown apothecary jar with lid on clear base 39cm high, Ø 17cm (15.35"x6.69") High narrow blown glass pitcher with clear handle and base 37cm high, Ø9cm (14.57"x3.54" Pressed glass with motifs and milky white handle 30cm high, Ø16cm (11.81"x6.3") Bulbous blown pitcher with milky white handle 29cm high, Ø 15cm (11.42"x 5.91") High tazza bowl on turned clear base 28cm high, Ø 19cm (11"x7.49") Diabolo shaped vase 25cm high, Ø14cm (9.84"x5.51") Handblown lidded candy dish...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Opaline Glass
$257
H 4 in W 3.75 in D 3.25 in
Strombergshyttan Mid-Century Art Glass Crystal Vase by Gerda Stromberg c. 1960
By Strombergshyttan
Located in Atlanta, GA
Heavy "Stromberg Blue" Swedish Modern art glass vase by Gerda Stromberg for Strombergshyttan Glassworks in Sweden c. 1960. This heavy ice blue/silver hued crystal was widely known a...
Crystal
$1,450 / set
H 9.5 in Dm 11 in
Dorothy Thorpe Mid-Century Silver Band Roly Poly Glasses and Cocktail Punch Bowl
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Midcentury Dorothy Thorpe style silver rimmed punch bowl and roly poly glasses, set of twelve Vintage 1960s attributed to Dorothy Thorpe midcentury b...
Glass
Mid-Century Drinking Glasses by Riihimäki Finland, Set of 6
By Riihimaki
Located in KUTNO, PL
Colorful glasses from the Riihimäki glassworks (Finland) are a perfect example of Finnish functional design—simple, functional, yet full of joy and color. Made of pressed glass, the...
Glass
$1,110 / set
H 9.85 in Dm 4.73 in
Mid-Century Modern Set of Two Italian Venetian Goblets Aquamarine Murano Glass
By Murano 5
Located in Murano, Venezia
Elegant pair of aquamarine glass goblets with dolphin and swan in 24-carat gold leaf. The objects made of Murano glass are all handmade by our famous Murano artisans, making our wo...
Gold Leaf
$60Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 5.5 in W 2.75 in D 2.75 in
Rare Dorothy Thorpe Silver Rim Wine Glasses, Set of 4
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Wilton, CT
Rare Dorothy Thorpe silver rim wine glass.
Silver
$694 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 3.94 in
Mid-Century Modern Blue and Gold Set of Two Venetian Murano Glass Goblets, 1992s
By Murano 5
Located in Murano, Venezia
Elegant pair of blue Venetian glass goblets with 24-carat gold leaf. The objects made of Murano glass are all handmade by our famous Murano art...
Gold Leaf
Dorothy Thorpe Style Mid-Century Silver Fade Barware Shot Glasses
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1960s Dorothy Thorpe style midcentury barware set of 6 shot glasses. Elegant exquisite vintage 1950s Designer Dorothy Thorpe pure silver overlay band barware glasses. This set Dorothy Thorpe midcentury cocktail glasses barware has the pure silver faded band around top edge of each piece. Set includes 6 shot glasses. 1960s Mid-Century Modern cocktail barware set. Silver fade. Measurements: Hot glasses height 3.5 inches, diameter 2.5 inches. The glasses looks like it was used very little and stored well. This vintage 1950s midcentury glassware or barware set will create a dramatic display for a back bar or table setting. These are from the 1950s and must be hand washed. They are not dishwasher safe. Dorothy Thorpe glassware was a chic staple of every Mid-Century Modern wet bar...
Glass
Mid Century Belgian Glass Vase
Located in High Point, NC
The vivid hues and liquid lines of blown art glass create an unmissable accent. Made in Belgium circa 1960, expressive glasswork forms a bold silhouette. Organic and abstract, remini...
Blown Glass
$650 / set
H 5.5 in Dm 3 in
Dorothy Thorpe Style Midcentury Silver Fade Cocktail Glasses Barware Set of 8
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1960s Dorothy Thorpe style midcentury cocktail bar set of 8 pieces Elegant exquisite vintage 1950s Dorothy Thorpe style pure silver overlay band barware glasses. This vintage midcentury cocktail glasses barware has the pure silver faded band around top edge of each piece. Set includes 8 glasses. 1960s Mid-Century Modern cocktail barware set. Measurements: Eight tall cocktail glasses height 5.5 inches, diameter 3 inches. The set looks like it was used very little and stored well. 1950s midcentury glassware or barware set They will create a dramatic display for a back bar or table setting. These are from the 1950s and must be hand washed. They are not dishwasher safe. Dorothy Thorpe glassware was a chic staple of every Mid-Century Modern wet bar...
Glass
$143Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 5.25 in Dm 2.25 in
Dorothy Thorpe Decorative Silver Ombre Drink Champagne Wine Glasses
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Toronto, ON
A set of Thorothy Thorpe 1960s midcentury modern Glassware. The set includes four glasses. There's a gorgeous silver detailing on the rims of the glas...
Glass
X-Large Glass Goblet by Dorothy Thorpe Rareaq/s
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare giant goblet by Dorothy Thorpe excellent condition light patina on the silver band , looks like new no scratches great piece of conversation.
Silver Leaf
Dorothy Thorpe Silver Detail Vase
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic style and simple vase - this Dorothy Thorpe Vase creates a sense of elegance without overpowering it's nearby decorative items an iconic design from an iconic mid century des...
Silver
Mid-Century Etched Glass Floral Vase by Dorothy Thorpe
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful mid-century etched glass floral vase by Dorothy Thorpe, circa 1970s. The vase measures 5.5" D x 8.25" H and is super hard to find. Side. Dortothy Thorpe "T" logo is em...
Glass
Art Deco Acid Etched Vase with Maple Leaf Motif by Dorothy Thorpe
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated vase was created by Dorothy Thorpe, the acclaimed midcentury glassware designer, in the 1950s. Its understated elegance- consisting of an austere cylindrical form ...
Glass
Group of Three Dorothy Thorpe Etched Vases
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in New York, NY
Three etched vases, the two smaller ones are signed, the taller vase is unsigned. Measures: Bud vase 6" H. Small vase 4.75" H. No damage, three items incl...
Glass