Glass Cake Stands

Vintage American glass cake stands are beautiful and collectible pieces of serve ware.

Glass cake stands can be very ordinary or works of art. Plus they have a variety of uses that might not be obvious. In addition to cakes, I’ve used my cake stand for pies, pastries, cookies, fruit and cheese. During the holidays it becomes a pedestal for a striking glass ornament and garland arrangement. With the holidays ahead,  I wanted to celebrate these unusual, and even rare, American antique and vintage glass cake stands with colors and decorations that range from simple to elaborate.

A rare Duncan Three Face Cake Stand [top] with frosted stem and base. ca. 1878-1886, is a sculpted treasure. Made by George Duncan & Sons, in Pittsburgh, Pa. it dates back to 1865. John Ernest Miller joined the company as a designer in 1874 with the company incorporating as Duncan & Miller Glass Co in 1900. The artistry of design, the skill of the workers, and the colors of the glass set the company apart from others of the time. The factory continued production until June, 1955 when objects of this kind were swept out of style by the mid-century movement towards modern furniture and home décor.

Duncan and Miller’s King Arthur pattern glass pedestal cake stand with gold skirting , ca. 1905.

The  L. E. Smith Glass Company began in 1907 and is known for creating the first headlight lens for the Model T Ford as well as the original glass mixing bowl for kitchens. Pink, green, amber, yellow, amethyst and cobalt were being made as early as 1926 followed by a formula for highly collectible black glass. The company remains in business though production ceased last year. Smith’s pink trellis cake stand is a well loved shape and color.

Fenton Art Glass, founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John W. Fenton, featured unusual colors that has helped it stay in the forefront of the handmade art glass industry. In late 1907, Fenton introduced “iridescent” or carnival glass.  Today the company is still family owned and producing glass known for its beautiful colors and patterns. The Vaseline glass cake stand is a particular color of yellow-green produced during the middle of the 20th Century when 2% Uranium Dioxide was added to the glass formula.

A detail of this cake stand which dates to ca. 1949, and represents the continuation of Depression glass designs following World War II.

(Source: Seymour Auctions, All Antique Glass, Replacements Ltd., Solvang Antique Center)

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