PART 1: RECENT DISCOVERY, UNIQUE TYPE 3a SOUTH JERSEY
SUGAR BOWL -
Extremely rare & important, type 3a lily pad sugar bowl. Found in a
box lot at a back road auction, in Burlington co. N.J. Imagine a box lot
with old spoons and forks, shoe laces, a couple pencils, and....well you
guessed it ? Although the bowl is not in perfect condition, it is one of
the most important lily pad sugar bowls ever found. The type 2, 3, and
elusive 3a were made by master blowers like Matt Johnson, with only a few
known surviving specimens. As far as we know,Johnson first worked at a
small glass factory in Harrisburgh N.Y, Jefferson county,1841, owned by
John Rice. The operation failed one year latter, and Johnson is said to
have established himself at the Redford glass works, Clinton co. N.Y.,
famous for the production of window glass, where some of the finest lily
pad, in relation to clarity and color, was made. The last stop was Stoddard
N.H, a bottle house, whos production was limited to a natural amber, olive,
and olive-amber metal , perfect for the production of sturdy bottles bound
for overland wagons. This was undoubtedly a challenge for the intemporate
Johnson, who was acustom to working a delicate, and mutable metal. 
The type 3a made at stoddard is a remarkable work of
art, Johnson the undoubtable artist. In George McKearins American glass
there is not one example of this lily pad technique. Out of all the sugar
bowls at the Corning museum of glass there are none that match this signature
style, seemingly restricted to a handfull of Stoddard pitchers.In Knops
collectors guide to American antiques," Glass tableware, bowls &
vases", plate75, we see what is titled "Johnson Lily-pad pitcher."
This example is also pictured in Helen McKearins "200 years of American
glass", plate 38. This pitcher, in technique and lower body form,
is identical to the Burlington New Jersey sugar bowl. There is also another
3a, attributed to Johnson, made at Stoddard,which is now in Winterthur
museum.
The type 3a is first described as having a carved appearence.The extended
curving arm, terminating in a wide pad, is directly above,almost touching
the lower lily pad. This particular example goes the extra mile, with top
and bottom lily pads merging together.Through our subsequent research channels
we located a matching lily pad pitcher, also found in South Jersey. Both
sugar bowl and pitcher are identical in every way, and have a unique iron
core tubular pontil.If you turned that picher amber, it would be attributed
to Johnson.
This fact before us poses the interesting question where did Johnson work
before Harrisburgh? Where did he apprentice, how old was he at the time,
and where did he go after Stoddard? Did Johnson make this bowl , and where
was it made? The migration of individual artisan glass blowers presents
a facinating topic.I believe it is the future course of research and study.
The
personalization of unique works of folk art bring to focus the reality
of everyday life, and puts us closer to the ultimate artist.
to be continued....