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Ralph Berglund's Red Glass
A 2014 Display Case Exhibit

Ralph explains:

"Although these items were sold as souvenirs for events and places all over the country, my collection is of souvenirs of Atlantic City where I grew up. In the 1890's and into the 1900's there were boardwalk stores where one could purchase a piece of ruby-stained glass and have it engraved with “Atlantic City,” the date, and the name of a special person, e.g. Mother, Sister, Charles, Fay. The pieces that I've collected include pitchers, tumblers, creamers, mugs, cups, sugars, shots, stems, toothpicks and sometimes paperweights."

Mike Carrell photographed the shelves of the Medford Leas Display Case.

For detailed informaion and closeups taken by Ralph, visit:

Ralph Berglund's souvenir Early American Pattern Glass.

and

Sample Patterns in Ralph's Collection


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with Glass Slipper
"With the Internet, the ability to learn more about pattern glass has grown remendously. I have found some excellent informative sites such as Early American Pattern Glass Society; EAPG Inc; and EAPGlass. With ebay the collecting possibilities have become greatly expanded."

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"My collection currently consists of about 100 pieces, most of them unique as to function and/or pattern, e.g. no more than one pitcher in a particular size and particular pattern. With my further requirements that pieces be from Atlantic City, and that they be acid-etched or wheel-engraved rather than pad-stamped or painted, it's getting harder to find new and interesting pieces. But I keep getting surprised and that's part of what makes it fun. Over the years I have paid prices ranging from $10 to $150 depending on the piece’s function, pattern, and size."

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The cup at the extreme right is the first item in Ralph's collection. On his page he explains, " I acquired my first piece, a red block pattern mug, from my Mother who strolled the boardwalk in the early 1900's when these souvenirs were popular. In over twenty years of looking, I've not seen another red block piece as a souvenir. Since the stain had to be applied to each block individually, perhaps there was too much labor content for the souvenir market. Closeup of the red block pattern mug

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About the sugarbowl at the left, Ralph wrote, "I also heartily recommend the Eastern National Antique Show held twice a year in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It has been described as the premier glass show, and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. It’s a beautiful scene. If you like glass this is THE place to go. I found this unique and attractive sugar bowl there."

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