Pilgrim Glass of West Virginia

With a degree in ceramic engineering and a flair for sales, Alfred Knobler purchased the failing Tri State Glass Manufacturing Company in Huntington, West Virginia in 1949 and began production. In 1956 he built the current production facility several miles away in Ceredo, West Virginia.

Pilgrim’s early production was hand-blown crackle glass in ruby, tangerine, amethyst, smoke, sapphire, amber, green, and crystal. The crackle effect was achieved by immersing the glass into cold water and then reheating it.

Crackle glass products were produced through the late 1960s. They included pitchers, vases, decanters, cruets, bowls, candy jars, candleholders, ashtrays, and apothecary jars. Other early pieces were available in clear and satin finishes.

In the mid-fifties, brothers Alessandro and Roberto Moretti emigrated from Italy finding employment with Pilgrim. Their production consisted mainly of glass animals. Earliest pieces were birts, cats, ducks, horses, fish, whales, swans, donkeys, and elephants. Later pieces included owls, deer, turtles, rabbits, and snails. Today, the works of Alessandro and Roberto are carried on by their brother-in-law Mario Sandon.

Cranberry glass was introduced to the Pilgrim line in 1968. Although always popular, few glass manufacturers attempted this color, which involves an often temperamental combination of lead oxide and real gold. Over the years cranberry glass has become the mainstay of Pilgrim’s business. Today, Pilgrim Glass is the largest producer of cranberry glass in the world.

Also produced in the ‘60s were a line of cased glass wares, peachblow reproductions, and ‘end of the day’ spackle ware.

In the 1970s Pilgrim added a kitchen focus, producing popular clear glass canisters, salad sets, and platters. Pilgrim’s approach to innovation and new markets has been described as “adding something new to the tried and true”.

In the 1980s, vases and pitchers in cobalt, cranberry, crystal, and ruby continued to be popular. New colors for the eighties were opaque white, red, grey and black.

In 1985 Pilgrim introduced the Masterwork collection consisting largely of vases and columns over 30 inches in height.

Cameo Glass

Under the direction of Kelsey Murphy, Pilgrim introduced a truly extraordinary line of cameo glass in the late 1980s. Through a sandblasting process, cased glass is carved to reveal the desired color and design. Colors suitable for casing include cranberry, green, cobalt, crystal pink, topaz, black, and white. The designs are Murphy’s own pictorial scenes. All pieces are signed by Kelsey. Most are issued in limited editions and numbered.

Consolidated Glass

In 1992 Pilgrim Glass purchased all Phoenix and Consolidated glass molds formerly in possession of Sinclair glass. These molds were designed by Reuben Haley, who died in 1933. The molds were used to produce the Consolidated Glass Company’s famous “Lalique Reproductions”. It is unknown how many of the old molds are in restorable condition. However, in Pilgrim’s 1994 catalogue there are examples of vases in Line 700, Dancing Nymphs, Cockatoo, Lovebird, Bittersweet, Blackberry, LeFleur, Bird in Bough, Hummingbird, Pine Cone, Jonquil, Dogwood, and Dragonfly patterns. All are pictured in clear glass with a satin finish. Except for a few experimental pieces, all Pilgrim Consolidated and Phoenix Glass is clearly etched Pilgrim Glass on the bottom.

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