Pink Thistle Glassware

The Macbeth Evans Glassware company came into being at the turn of the century, when two companies merged to be able to use some new technologies and afford them.

The new technology was a glass blowing machine that was costly at best.

But it did permit them to be able to become one of the larger suppliers of glass for lighting, and for lampshades and chimneys.

A translucent white colored glass known as Monax won them the admiration of the entire industry and was the perfect color and exactly the right strength to make street lamps.

It was stated that the very best street lamps in every city were made with Monax globes in the year 1900.

In about 1924 Macbeth Evans expanded their operations to make tableware and water sets as well as other serving dishes.

In 1930 they began producing complete lines of dinner ware. Those included Dogwood, Petalware, and stippled Roses.

Pink Thistle glassware by Macbeth Evans.

Perhaps, as one author has conjectured, it was a test case to see if dinnerware was something they should produce.

Only seven types of pieces of Thistle pattern were made; cup and saucer, luncheon plate, grill plate, bowl, and fruit bowl and cake plate.

The pieces would be combined to make an admirable luncheon set, a dessert setting or a very basic dinner setting.

Thistle was made in pink and green. Both colors are hard to find, and though less green was produced, more folks are looking for pink so neither is really an easy find anywhere these days.

The texture is very thin and looks very much like a frosted glass pattern. It is strong and durable, but the pattern seems to be as light and faint as to nearly disappear on the piece.

Being so hard to find and so few made, the price will of course reflect this, but the pattern is so delicate and elegant that if you find them, what you pay will be well worth the cost.

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