The Everglades Pattern

by Charles Upton
Rainbow Review Glass Journal - May 1973

"Everglades" was the name given to a particular line of glassware manufactured by the Cambridge Glass Company, of Cambridge, Ohio, from 1934 to 1954. The line was a very unusual one. It resembles things that one might find in the Florida Everglades.

One pattern resembles long leaves of some sort that have been pasted on the sides of the piece of glass, with the leaves in some cases extending over the edges of the item. This made the pieces very easily Catalog page broken and thus makes them difficult to obtain now.

Another pattern resembles a tulip-like plant or flower with long leaves. This pattern did not have the leaves extending over the edges like the above pattern. It is a very pretty and desired pattern.

Two other patterns resemble a fern-like plant and a viney plant with pointed leaves. It is hard to describe these two because of my lack of knowledge of tropical plants and flowers. Maybe some of our Florida readers can help us with the names of these plants and flowers used on the Everglade line. It is important to know everything about the patterns that one collects. I cannot find anything in print on the names, if any, used by the Cambridge Glass Company.

Probably the most collectible of this line would be the next two patterns. The first being the Buffalo Hunt pattern. This pattern depicts the Indian on his horse chasing the Buffalo, with his bow drawn. The second being the one showing the three Swans and two Cranes among the cattails and lily pads. I have always associated the buffalo with the western part of the country but maybe some went south for a vacation.

Another pattern shows a Daffodil-like flower with long fronds and another with a Straw flower type plant. These two are very unusual patterns, and are hard to describe.

The pattern which I call the "Three Seasons" pattern shows three different flowers in nine separate panels around the edge. Since there would be no Winter in the Everglades, there would be only three seasons. I would like to know the name of these flowers.

The Everglades line has been seen in several colors. Everglades patterns were produced in a "Pearl Mist" (frosted crystal), Carmen, Crown Tuscan, Moonlight Blue, Milk White, Amber, Forest Green, Mandarin Gold, Violet, Crystal and Peach-Blo. Any of the above colors could have been frosted. It it not believed that all items of the line were made in all colors mentioned but it is entirely possible. The patterns were made in to the mold and were not cut or etched into the glass, like much of Cambridge.

Editor's Note: Mr. Upton is president of the newly formed "National Cambridge Collectors, Inc." club.