Cambridge Japonica

Joy McFadden, Frank & Vicki Wollenhaupt
Glass Review - October 1978

A. J. Bennett, the first president of the Cambridge Glass Company, seemed to be intrigued by the Oriental theme. This is apparent due to the Oriental figures (Geisha and Buddha), the "Blue Willow" and Japonica Label Japonica detail "Dragon" etchings, and the Temple Jar console set, all of which were produced by The Cambridge Glass Company. Probably the rarest of the Cambridge items with the Oriental theme is Japonica. As defined in the dictionary, "Camellia japonica is a woody plant native to Asia, having glossy evergreen leaves and white, pink, red or varigated waxy roselike flowers."

Cambridge Japonica is a white enamel floral decoration which has been seen applied to urns, vases, bowls, plates and candlesticks. Japonica has no birds, butterflies, or other animals incorporated into the design (see detail photo at right). Colors which this treatment has been seen on are Carmen, Royal Blue, Amethyst, and Forest (dark) Green, all of which are transparent colors. One side of the item will have a satin finish which tends to mute the color and enhance the decoration.

The decoration itself appears to have been applied with the silk screen process and then most likely hand finished. An educated opinion dates this treatment in the early to mid-thirties, because the majority of the items which have the Japonica decoration can be found in the 1930-1934 N.C.C. Catalog Reprint. The Japonica decoration itself has not been seen in any known Cambridge catalog, nor has any information about this decoration been found in any trade journals.

The authors have seen Japonica on the following shapes (The page numbers refer to the National Cambridge Collectors Catalog Reprint 1930-1934): Japonica Urn

Page
Number		 Item
Number		 Item
Description		           Page
Number		 Item
Number		 Item
Description
51 278 11" Vase           31-11 1228 9" Oval Vase
31-11 1240 12" Oval Bowl           31-11 779 14" Vase
31-12 3400/4 12" 4 toed Bowl           31-15 1305 10" Vase
32-7 3400/102 5" Globe Jar           32-8 1307 Candelabra (3 lite)
337 3400/93 5½" Ivy Ball           33-15 3500/45 10" Footed Vase
33-15 3500/41 10" Urn or Candy Jar           33-15 3500/42 12" Urn
33-19 628 3½" Candlestick           33-31 1299 11" Vase
33-31 1301 10" Vase                

The signature (shown above left, at the beginning of this article), which is not found on every item, is applied in a white enamel, the same as the floral decoration

If anyone has additional information concerning Cambridge Japonica, the authors would appreciate hearing from you.