Vintage Glass Footed Votive Candleholders / Toothpick Holders ~ Uncertain Maker
This pattern of votive candleholder has perplexed me for years. These were bought many years ago at yard sales and flea markets in the Midwest. I believe they were made here in the United States, probably in the 1960s or 1970s.
Perhaps a glass collector or researcher will eventually run across this page and let us know the identity of the glassmaker that produced this particular style of votive candle holder!! (Perhaps they are pictured in an obscure glass, home decor or housewares catalog somewhere? Maybe someone has an old sales flyer or brochure, or an original box with maker or distributor identification?).
Well, actually there are at least three different styles known. But they are all footed and have a very similar appearance. I am fairly sure they were all made by the same glass company.
The most commonly seen pattern is usually known as “Hobnail”. (Not to be confused with other types of Hobnail votives that do not have a similar “foot” or “stem”, such as those discussed on this page). Another pattern features rows of small “pyramids” – this pattern is very much like “diamond point” but each “pyramid” is exactly square and arranged in horizontal and vertical rows – not diagonally.
The third pattern consists of three rows of small round “dishes” or “thumbprints”, each placed inside a square. There are eight vertical rows, making a total of 24 “thumbprints”. The pattern is slightly reminiscent of “Block with Thumbprint”, a much, much older pattern from the 1860s.
They each measure three inches tall. The only colors I have seen are blue, green, ruby red and yellow amber. The amber examples seem to be the hardest to find – evidently they were made in smaller numbers. Each candleholder has a single digit mold number embossed on the base, such as a 1, 2 or 3. Perhaps these were made mostly for Christmas season decorations?
I have seen a number of these posted on online sites such as ebay, and there seems to be no clear consensus on who made them, or when. Ideas for maker include Crescent Glass Company (later Brooke Glass Company) of Wellsburg, West Virginia; Indiana Glass Company, Dunkirk, Indiana, or Anchor Hocking, based in Lancaster, Ohio. They have also been attributed to Homco, although Homco was a distributor of all kinds of home decor products and not an actual glassmaker.
Do you know? Please be sure to contact me if you have answers!
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