Imperial Glass Company began in 1902. Over the years the company would go on to produce an array of clear, colored, acid-etched, deep-etched, iridescent, gold, silver, or burnished tumblers, vases, pitchers, figurines, platters, relish dishes, ash trays, cake stands, candlesticks, goblets, perfume bottles, bells, hurricane lamps, punch bowls, salt and pepper shakers, candy boxes, and more, in an amazing variety of shapes and designs, many of them sold in the leading department stores of the day. In 1973, the Imperial Glass Company was purchased by Lenox, and the company’s emphasis on glassware changed to giftware. Unfortunately, heavy competition existed in this area, and Imperial’s market share dwindled. Ultimately, the Imperial Glass Company was forced into bankruptcy in the early 1980s. |
