Anyone of a certain age will remember the instrumental song from the 1960’s called Classical Gas by Mason Williams. If not, click here to listen.
For a few years, I have collected classical glass – glassware designed to look like classical Wedgwood Jasperware patterns, right down to the Greek, Roman, Egyptian and even Chinoiserie motifs, as well as the colours and details. It is generally referred to as Hellenic ware, even though it’s not all Greek motifs.
This glassware was made by the Jeannette Glass company which was founded in Pennsylvania in the early 1900’s and went out of existence in the late 1980’s.
The colours of the glassware range from a pale bright Wedgwood blue, to a darker blue to the lovely green. 
All of the pieces have white figures on them, just as the Wedgwood Jasperware pieces do, and much of the glassware has hand-painted gold rims, although many glasses’ rims have faded over time. 
The Hellenic ware comes in a huge variety of shapes and sizes as you can see here. 
All of the themes are classic, more than 2000 years old! 
You could find a Greek, Roman or Egyptian vase in any museum with nearly the same figures in the same poses.
The glassware is very detailed, with the motifs covering nearly the entire piece. 
I have listed a number of these glasses sets on my Etsy site and they always sell. This set is Egyptian. 
This set has an Indochine motif. 
This set is Chinoiserie. 
I think these classical glasses are lots of fun. What about you?
Love them - I did a post on various fun glasses I saw on Ebay one was similar to the ones in the caddy. Love them - great post.
ReplyDeleteOh wow. I haven't seen Greek/Roman designs in a while. I am loving it!
ReplyDeleteI love them. I have a pitcher in green and wondered why they were so common in my old neighborhood. The Jeannette Glass connection would explain it since I lived 5 miles away from Jeannette.
ReplyDeletesomething I have never seen before - i like the glasses - your post dovetails with EEE's recent post about the Thomas Hope Collection currently on exhibit in NYC -
ReplyDeletemiss is just took a class on egyptology - a few glasses for her dorm room maybe?
I have some low ball hellenic glasses that I inherited from my grandparents. Until now I thought they only held sentimental value. I did not realize that it had a name and that other people appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I think I will take them out of hiding and display them somewhere.
Always liked these! The Jeannette Glass company was near to me here in PA
ReplyDeleteHello, I am a lurker and love your blog. I also loved seeing these glasses, because my Mother had a set and I don't know whatever happened to them but they remind me of her. She had the highball glasses in the Hellenic motif. Thank you so much for showing us these!
ReplyDeleteFrancie
Wasn't "Classical Gas" the theme music for Channel 11 News back when it was Action News...before it became "Live - Local - Latebreaking News"??? Sorry to be completely off on a tangent.
ReplyDeleteI had not seen the Egyptian series, so that was a treat. What was the height of popularity for these sets, especially the drinking glasses with the carrying rack? The second half of the 1950s?
ReplyDeleteYou probably already know this, but I'll tell you anyway. Keep your finger on the pulse of etsy.com for more of this stuff!
ReplyDeleteI gave some of my great grandmother's Wedgewood to charity and the rest I gave to a dear friend who collects Wedgewood. My grandmother shipped it to Australia from England when we emigrated and I brought it here to the US when my grandmother died. I feel good knowing all the pieces found appreciative homes :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I spelled Wedgwood incorrectly.
ReplyDeleteI have a few of them how much would they go for?
ReplyDeleteMy mother has a set of green and blue glasses just like those in your 2nd and 3rd row of pictures. I think she has had them for over 50 years and they still look great! I just recently picked up an 11 3/4" square plate in the darker blue with a different pattern. It has a white border in a rectangular pattern. The picture is of Greek or Roman people wearing togas. Some of the people are standing and raising up wine glasses, while the other people are reclining in fancy beds/chaises eating grapes or drinking wine. Does anyone know anything about this pattern?
ReplyDeleteAnon@21:36 - check above for some information. They're probably by the Jeanette Glass Company. And the timing is right for that.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever come across lavender Jeannette Jasperware Hellenic Wedgwood Glasses ? I am unable to locate them on the web.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Mike
splatnews@yahoo.com
I have a set of eight lavender Jeannette Jasperware Hellenic Wedgwood water glasses (whew, that was a mouthful). Seven are in excellent shape, no fading or scratches, gold trim intact. The eighth has no gold trim left and is in good condition. I'm wondering what the current market is for these.
ReplyDeleteShaz
shazdg@gmail.com
I fondly remember my grandmother had these glasses, the Hellenic in blue, growing up in the late 60s and early 70s. I think my niece has them now. But I just purchased a set on eBay out of nostalgia for my cabin. I ma thinking they are from the 50s or early 60s?
ReplyDeleteGood post. I have inherited a set of the Grecian-themed ones. Six each of highball (water?) glasses, whiskey (rocks?) glasses and shot glasses, plus an ice bucket with stainless steel tongs. All in what has here been called "lavender", but I call them purple, which you don't see photos of much. Except for the tall glasses, all the gold rims are in excellent shape. The general overall condition is very good to excellent. My parents would have purchased them in the early sixties in either Saskatchewan or northern Manitoba and they were never used much as far as I recall.
ReplyDeleteI too remember my mother bought a set of the green Greco-Roman glasses in the late 60's. I always loved them. A few years ago she gave me the last one from the set. The rest had broken over use/time. I know where a similar set is at an antique shop and am going to look at them today. Always wondered if they made them in blue. The Egyptian set is interesting too. Enjoy your collection!
ReplyDeleteI'm 81 years old and in the process of preparing to move to live with my daughters and came across the green pitcher. After more clearing, we found one of the iced tea glasses. My mother (and family) got the glasses from a local pharmacy (back when pharmacies had soda fountains), free when you purchased a "mint julep" drink. I believe other items were available for purchase at the same pharmacy. This was all back in the 50's.
ReplyDelete