The Imperial Glass Company was a Twentieth Century glass house that produced milk and other beautiful glassware, first in Ohio and then in West Virginia, from 1901 to 1984. The most famous Imperial glass pattern is Candlewick, a form of clear glass, usually, with perfectly round beads spaced around the edges of each piece. In milk glass, Imperial has some highly recognizable pieces, and all the opaque glass pieces are well made.
Foremost among Imperial’s opaque glass objects are the John and Mary Bull shakers. These signature shakers are formed in one piece containing the head, a rotund upper body and either a convex or concave lower section for the lower half of the body. The silver metal shaker top looks like the dome of a hat resting on the rim, which is part of the glass head of the figure. These shakers are quite unique in the realm of glass salt and pepper shakers. No mention is made of them ever being painted.
Other unique pieces of milk glass by Imperial include a set of four trivet ashtrays. These small pieces are made in four different trivet shapes and have nice, clean lines and interesting shapes. A third Imperial product that is easily recognized is a parakeet in a round birdcage with a shingled roof and a metal ring. This covered dish or candy jar is now being produced in colored glass by the Summit Art Glass Company.
Imperial glass produced a number of different grape patterns, and many pieces in them. The grape patterns include decanters, sugar and creamer sets, syrup pitchers, a grape cluster tray, grape leaf ashtrays, grape pattern vases and plates, and even an oil lamp shaped vase. This form, the oil lamp with bottom reservoir and upper shade, but all in one piece to for a vase, was also made in Hobnail by Imperial.
Other Imperial milk glass items include candle sticks like the Newbound double candlestick and the Vinelf candlesticks and compote. These last have a elf as the stem with an overall vine and leaf decoration on the foot and bowl. Imperial also made a Scroll pattern compote, and Three Section Ivy Tower set from 1958-1968. For covered dishes, look to Imperial for a Fleur di Lys footed candy with lid, a Dove Box, also known as the Atterbury Dove Box, a Turkey covered dish, a Pocket Watch covered candy dish, and a Pie Wagon covered dish, among others.
Imperial made a Covered Pineapple marmalade jar, a Roses plate, Quilted shakers in a basket, a Basket Weave Salt and Pepper set, and a Horseshoe and grapes tray. Among their vases are the Loganberry vase, and, like many companies, they made a Lace Edge basket.
The Imperial milk glass production includes some fine, distinctive pieces, and all seem well made. Look for them if you look to include opaque glass in your glass collection.
Much of this information comes from Collector’s Encyclopedia of Milk Glass Identification & Value Guide, Betty & Bill Newbound, Collector’s Books, 1995.
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