Pairpoint “Bullicante” Glass on Silverplated Base

This inkstand was produced by the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company. The combination of “Bullicante” glass (controlled air bubbles) and an ornate silver-plated footed base is a hallmark of the high-quality desk accessories produced in New Bedford during the late 19th century.

Model #5436: Dating This Inkwell

Based on the maker’s mark and the pattern number, this inkwell was likely manufactured between 1890 and 1900.

• The Mark: The circular stamp on the base (“Pairpoint Mfg Co, New Bedford, Mass, Quadruple Plate”) was used from the company’s founding in 1880 until it reorganized as “The Pairpoint Corporation” in 1900.
• The Pattern Number: The model number 5436 falls within the later production sequence of the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company. By 1900, many of their silver-plate pattern numbers had transitioned into new series for the reorganized corporation.
• The Glass: The “bubble ball” or bullicante technique (trapping air bubbles in a symmetrical pattern) was a specialty that Pairpoint became famous for. While it was used extensively in their 20th-century lamps and barware, these spherical inkwells were a popular luxury item in the decade leading up to 1900.

Description

• Glass: A heavy, blown-glass spherical inkwell featuring a controlled bubble (Bullicante) pattern. The glass is clear and brilliantly refractive.
• Base: A quadruple-plated silver base. “Quadruple plate” was a marketing term used by American manufacturers to denote a higher quality and thickness of silver electroplating over a base metal (usually white metal or Britannia).
• Design Elements: The base features a pierced (gallery) skirt with vertical slats and is supported by four scroll-and-shell feet. The lid is a simple, domed silver-plated cap with a spherical finial.

About Pairpoint Manufacturing Company

The history of Pairpoint is a fascinating story of two industries—silver and glass—merging to create some of the most iconic American decorative arts.

• Founded (1880): The company was established in New Bedford, Massachusetts, by Thomas J. Pairpoint, a renowned English silversmith who had previously worked for the Meriden Britannia Company.
• The Mt. Washington Connection: Pairpoint was built specifically next door to the Mt. Washington Glass Company. Initially, Pairpoint supplied the silver-plated mounts (bases, handles, and lids) for Mt. Washington’s ornate glass pieces.
• The Merger (1894): The two companies officially merged in 1894, though they continued to use their respective marks for several years. This allowed for seamless integration of metal and glass, as seen in this inkwell.
• Legacy: Pairpoint became world-famous for its “Puffy” lamps and reverse-painted glass. Today, Pairpoint Glass remains the oldest operating glass company in the United States, though they moved from New Bedford to Sagamore, MA, in 1970.