Reading Craquelle Opalescent Overshot
These pieces are actually considered Art Glass but because they were made with
Opalescent glass bodies and Opalescent Glass Overshot I decided to include them
in this Victorian Opalescent Glass Price Guide.

The first three Baluster formed vases are actually Overshot Art Glass. The fritt was marvered and then
the item blown slightly larger to cause the fritt to clump and separate on the surface. This effect is
called Craquelle Overshot. The fritt is actually crushed Opalescent Glass which gives the pieces their intense color.
The White Craquelle Opalescent Overshot Baluster vase with the Canary neck ring and applied curled side handles shown
was in my personal collection for many years and is now housed in the Corning Museum of Glass. The other four pieces are in
private collections. This Baluster shaped vase next is Canary Yellow Craquelle Opalescent Overshot with a Turquoise
Opalescent neck ring and rim edge. This one was also in my personal collection. Having had the honor to own these pieces
I was able to study first hand how they were made. The weight, the thickness of the glass, and the very sharp feel of the overshot.
The third vase was made using a true Black colored Overshot over Red glass with a Sapphire Blue Opalescent neck
ring and is about as rare as rare can be. The next Pitcher below is in the only true Red Opalescent color known to be
made in America in the 19th century. It was advertised as a Wine Jug. The next item in the middle is a 5" vase with a Bull's Eye pattern.
This piece was also in my personal collection. What is shown here is a Pink Craquelle Opalescent Overshot vase. On the right
is a Tankard pitcher in Saphire Blue with Opalescent Craquelle Overshot. So ultra rare. The photo is courtesy of an
Oregon collector. It is a real treat to show it.

The company who made these pieces was a very short lived company called the Reading Artistic Glass Works.
They were founded in Reading Pennsylvania in 1884. Two years later in 1886 the company closed. There was
one Frenchman, Joseph Bournique who was the superintendant and art director who developed the Craquelle Overshot glass
in clear crystal only when he worked previously at the Sandwich Glass Company. Also working at Reading was Joseph's son
Adolphe Bournigue who was the manager and chemist who developed the Opalescent colors used for the Craquelle Opalescent Overshot.
There were 10 French artists and 4 helpers employed who made some of the most beautiful American made art glass known
at the time. Their primary production was Craquelle Opalescent Overshot. The Opalescent colors used for Craquelle
were Violet, Canary, Turquoise, Green, Pink, White, and Sapphire or light Blue. Items were also made in plain colors using every
color known at the time. Some of these plain colored pieces were also Opalescent as shown in the Red Wine Jug. Any piece
found today is considered extremely rare. Because of the rarity and little information known, shape is the primary way of identifying
these pieces and I hope you enjoy seeing them. Other pictures can be found in American Art Glass by John Shuman III, first edition
and Shades of Glass by Ken Humphrey.

Note: Below are two enlarged photos that show what Craquelle Overshot looks like. The Black Craquelle
Overshot vase shows this effect very well.
Pink Translucent color 13 1/2" tall Tankard with White Opal Craquelle Overshot exterior.


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PATTERN	COMPANY	DESCRIPTION	COLOR	VALUE
Reading Craquelle Overshot	Reading	8 3/4" Tankard ***	Sapphire Blue	$2,500.00
Reading Craquelle Overshot	Reading	14" Vase w/Vaseline Side Handles	White ***	$2,000.00
Reading Craquelle Overshot	Reading	14" Vase w/Turquoise Neck Ring	Vaseline ***	$2,500.00
Reading Craquelle Overshot	Reading	14" Vase w/Sapphire Neck Ring	Black ***	$2,500.00
Reading Craquelle Overshot	Reading	5" Vase Bullseye	Pink ***	$500.00
Reading Red Opalescent	Reading	13" Handled Wine Jug	Red ***	$950.00

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