L G Wright Glass: from
the Glass Encyclopedia

'Si' Wright started his glass business in 1937, buying glass from the New Martinsville Glass company, from Fenton Art Glass, from Cambridge Glass and others, and selling it to antiques dealers and glass retailers. He had a good eye for which 19th century patterns and colors were currently popular and he was also an astute purchaser.

From the very start in 1937 Si was ordering molds to be made for his own versions of popular Victorian patterns. He also bought some original old molds, in particular some Northwood, Dugan, and Diamond molds. He negotiated with the glass manufacturers to get the best price for his glass production, and sent his molds to them to be used. The same molds were used to make L G Wright glass at several different glassworks at various times, depending on which works had spare capacity or needed the work to retain their staff. This makes L G Wright glass different from other collectible glass, and something of a nightmare for some collectors.

It is not possible to identify which glassworks made a particular piece of L G Wright glass. Most of the glass was not marked, so it can be difficult to tell the difference from original Victorian pieces, especially where original molds were used. Some L G Wright reproduction Northwood glass even carried the Northwood N in a circle trademark. This was later changed by adding an extra stroke to convert the N into a 'wobbly W'.

Having said those things, there is no doubt that the L G Wright Glass Company produced a large number of its own designs, albeit very similar to other companies' output. The goblet shown on the left is a good example. Both the color and the design are very similar to an English pattern made by Davidson's called (by collectors) Lady Chippendale (see below). But the LG Wright version has small circular "thumbprints" down each of the ribs, making it quite easily identified.