Mardi Gras Culver Glass History Vintage Barware & Glassware

Culver glassware. Vintage hardware, a history of Culver Glass and its many patterns. Mardi Gras large DoF slant tumblers from Culver. Flat 22k gold with glass gems, most often these are unsigned.

Can he found in 4.4 height but usually found in 4.1 height. They get harder and harder to find, although they seem to appear magically in batches.

These were originally sold mainly in sets.

As stated in my previous article, research indicates that the initial 1959 - 1962 version of the Mardi Gras pattern is made of flat gold leaf & glass jewels. A very popular pattern, yet these were made only for a few years. Apparently they remained available for sale up until the early 1970s, but production ended in 62.

This pattern offered ice buckets, martini mixers and cocktail shakers. The glasses came in 5 sizes but the largest DoF size varies from 4.4 to 4.1. The smallest glasses we’re shot glasses (grab these if you ever see them, I’ve seen them but once), what looks like juice glasses, slanted lowballs referred to by Culver as martini glasses (3.4), highballs and then the huge DoGs as pictured on this page.

The second round of this pattern is of raised gold leaf with glass jewels. These came in slant low ball / whiskey glasses, highballs and the large DoF as far as I can tell.

I find it much more difficult to find this style of the pattern today. I have not discovered much information on this particular design.

Finally, the raised gold leaf, with the former jewels replaced with festive colorful balls or flambeau, saw light in the late 60s, early 70s. Found in straight lowballs in 2 sizes, highballs and the huge DoFs.

These are still quite uncommon but production ran for the longest time of the three patterns.

Although some covet only the glassware signed by Culver, there is absolutely no evidence of copies or forgeries ever being made. Many of these pieces were often offered without signatures (especially when sold in large sets). The absence of a Culver signature should not affect its value in any way.

Culver was founded in Brooklyn, NY in the late 30s & moved to New Jersey in the 80s. The gold utilized in their glassware is 22k & fired at high heat onto the glass for permanence.

SUGGESTED CARE:
Carefully hand wash in lukewarm water & air dry.
To remove water marks, a clean, dry, linen cloth is all you need.

You can find me and my collection via Januarymoon1 or at Lightly Sauced Retro