Westmorland Glass

An antique chased gold encrusted console bowl made by Westmoreland in the 1910's-20's. Engraved florals and bars, or fencing, on the bowl. This is a lovely etched and cut footed bowl/compote with chased gold trim, perfect for your favorite table, displayed in a prized vitrine or the perfect gift. The Westmoreland Glass Company was founded in 1889 when a group of men purchased the Specialty Glass Company located in East Liverpool, Ohio, and moved it to Grapeville, Pennsylvania. Grapeville was chosen as the location of the factory because the property had a large source of natural gas. George West served as president of the company, while his brother Charles West was the Vice President. Ira Brainard was the primary financial backer of Westmoreland. His son J.J. Brainard was an officer in the company. Westmoreland's main production was pressed glass tableware lines, mustard jars, and candy containers. In 1921, George West left the company and started his own glass company, George West and Sons. Charles West became president while J.J. Brainard became vice president of Westmoreland. The company changed its name to the Westmoreland Glass Company. Prior to his departure, George West created a large decorating department at Westmoreland.[1] Under the direction of Charles West, the company began to make high-quality hand-decorated glass from the 1920s through the 1930s, some of which was exhibited at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1937, Charles West retired and sold his interest to the Brainard family, which controlled the company until 1980. In the 1940s, the Brainards phased out the high-quality hand-decorated glass and began to produce primarily milk glass. In 1980, the Brainards sold the company to St. Louis, Missouri businessman David Grossman, who had no prior experience running a large glass-manufacturing company. The company went out of business in 1984 and was sold for $75,000 to George Snyder...