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Northwood
Northwood
It is difficult to write a short summary of the Northwood Glass Company because of the man who founded it. Harry Northwood was a glassmaking genius and entire books could be written with him as the central theme
Harry Northwood came to America in 1881 as an eager young man, ready to take the glass world by storm. He came armed with solid credentials. His father was John Northwood, a very well known and respected English glassmaker. Harry first went to work for Hobbs, Brockunier and Company of Wheeling, West Virginia.
For the next 20 years Harry worked for various glass companies in America, refining his skills. He formed a couple of glassmaking companies but for one reason or another he was dissatisfied with those first ventures. In 1902, he returned "home" to Wheeling, West Virginia and purchased the then empty factory of his first employer. A few months later, the H. Northwood Company began producing a dazzling array of crystal, colored, slag and opalescent glass which was very well received by the buying public. They loved the lines and wanted more. Harry was very happy to provide them with the glass they so craved and the Northwood Glass Company was well on its way to financial success.
In 1905 Northwood adopted its now famous trademark, the underlined N in a circle. In 1908, when Fenton iridized glass proved to be a great success, Northwood was very quick to jump on the band wagon. In the spring of 1908, Northwood introduced his own line of iridized glass called "Golden Iris" (marigold). Soon to follow, came lines in amethyst, green and cobalt blue base glass colors. In January of 1910 Northwood introduced a new pattern line called Grape and Cable. This proved to be one of the most extensive and popular patterns in American Glassmaking history. It remains an extremely popular pattern among carnival glass collectors today. Possibly more shapes and colors can be found in this pattern than in any others in all of carnival glass!
Over the next 10 year period, many new colors and patterns were added to the carnival glass line all of which were well received by the public. In the summer of 1918, Harry Northwood fell seriously ill. His illness was described as "liver problems" and suddenly on February 4, 1919, Harry Northwood died at the young age of 58. The Northwood factory continued to produce glass for the next 6 years with some moderate success but it lacked the leadership and zeal provided by Harry Northwood. The company soon faded and died, closing it's doors forever in 1925.
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Click on the picture to see more old Northwood factory pictures.
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The Northwood Glass Company is making a come back. Click on the link below to visit their web site.
Some of the Popular Northwood Patterns & Shapes
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Good Luck Bowl - Ruffled - Blue
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Grape & Cable - PCE Edge - Green
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Peacocks Plate - Marigold
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Good Luck - Ruffled - Sapphire Blue
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Rose Show Plate - Green
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Peacocks - Pie Crust - Amethyst
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Sunflower - Ruffled - Ice Blue
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Singing Birds Waterset - Green
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Three Fruits Medallion - Aqua Opal
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Rose Show Bowl - Ruffled - Blue
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