Milk Glass Memories #3 Westmoreland Paneled Grape

Milk Glass Memories #3 Westmoreland Paneled Grape #1881

The Westmoreland Glass gepanys Paneled Grape pattern was their most popular line. It started producing it in the late 1940s and continued to produce this pattern in milk glass until its closing in 1985. The pattern was copied from an earlier pattern, produced by the Kokomo Glass gepany, who produced this pattern in crystal and crystal with applied colors to the leaves and grapes. The crystal often had a yellow tinge and the colors wore quickly, as they were not fired on. The mold lines were also not polished. Kokomo produced this line until 1903. The factory burned in 1905 and it is believed the molds were sold to Westmoreland, either by Kokomo or the DC Jenkins gepany, which purchased the property.
The first piece produced was the 8 ounce goblet, and since it proved profitable, the gepany added additional pieces. The pattern became very popular and soon a whole dinner service was available. There were dinner, luncheon and bread and butter plates, cups and saucers, sherbets, tumblers, and other sizes of goblets. Serving pieces were also added, and a variety of vases, epergnes, punch bowl with liner and cups, and more. Some of the rare pieces in the Paneled Grape pattern are the 10 and 14 inch shallow bowls, the lipped epergne, the oblong herb bowl, canisters, punch sets, the fireside basket and lighter.
In 1963, the pattern was changed to add a beaded edge, like that in another of Westmorelands patterns, Beaded Edge. The pattern was intended to replace Paneled Grape, but customers hardly noticed the change and incorporated Beaded Grape into their Paneled Grape pattern. Beaded Grape never did take hold with the buying public and so, was not produced as in the large quantities as Paneled Grape.
Both Paneled Grape and Beaded Grape had raised leaf and grape patterns, which made it easy for decorators to paint with various colors. The most sought after decoration was #32 or gemonly called Roses and Bows. As there were many decorators, there were just as many versions..some had
No bows with just roses, others 2 roses and still others 1 rose. All are considered Roses and Bows, so dont let something go by, thinking it is not.
Pastel Fruit or Decorate #85 was produced as late as 1977. Most pieces have peach grapes with green tan and gray leaves. There are some with blue or purple grapes with various colored leaves. These are considered Pastel Fruit and most collectors seek these hard to find variations.
Decorate #915, was 22K gold applied to the leaves and grapes. This decorate was applied to both Paneled and Beaded Grape, while the green and gold #86 decorate is usually only found on Beaded Grape.
Just a note to the collector, Westmoreland did put a WG logo on all their molds, but through time these logos sometimes wore out. Westmoreland did not fix this unless another part of the mold needed repair. As a result of this many rare pieces are passed up because the buyer may think it is a reproduction. My advice is to know your dealer, and join the 2 Westmoreland Glass Clubs, to keep abreast of reproductions. Many pieces also had foil labels, in addition to the logo. This is usually prized by collectors but many collectors also use their glass, and so this may not mean as much to them.
In addition to white milk glass, Westmoreland also produced crystal, crystal with ruby stain, almond and green opaque milk glass.
To see some great examples ofWestmoreland Paneled Grapeand other milk glass, as well as depression era glassware elegant glass and glassware of the 40s 50s 60s and later, visit me at
Christine Nagy's Depression Glass and More At TIAS dot ge

References:
Westmoreland Glass 1950-84 Lorraine Kovar 1991
Westmoreland Glass The Popular Years Lorraine Kovar 2004
Welgee Home Westmoreland Ruth Ann Grizel 1990