The Fostoria Glass Co. 1893 Columbian Exposition Advertising Inkwell

Description

• Form & Material: A heavy, thick-walled block of clear flint glass, square in shape with beveled vertical corners and a prominent cylindrical neck. The interior features a suspended, smooth well to hold ink.
• Front Inscription & Imagery: The front face is wheel-engraved or acid-etched with crisp, frosted text. “FOSTORIA GLASS CO.” arches over a central architectural structure. The structure is closely flanked by the milestone dates 1887 and 1893. Along the baseline, it reads “MOUNDSVILLE, W.VA.”
• Central Structure: The engraving depicts a classic exposition display kiosk or pavilion. It features a multi-sided tented roof topped with a distinct decorative finial, a prominent central vertical opening, and highly detailed quilted or lattice-patterned walls.
• Base Advertising: The underside of the base features deep intaglio lettering designed to be read looking down through the top of the glass block. It clearly showcases Fostoria’s core commercial lines: “CANDELABRA”, “COLOGNES”, “CUT GLASS”, and “TABLEWARE”.
• The Metal Lid: The inkwell features a dark, heavily patinated metal collar and press-fit lid (cast from spelter). The top showcases a high-relief profile bust of a bearded classical figure facing left, wearing a laurel wreath. The bust is framed by a decorative, stylized repeating leaf border.

Historical Context:

1. The 1887–1893 Timeline

Fostoria Glass Company was originally founded in 1887 in Fostoria, Ohio, taking advantage of a brief natural gas boom in the region. However, the local gas lines quickly depleted, threatening production. In 1891, the company made the critical strategic move to relocate to a massive, stable new factory facility in Moundsville, West Virginia. The dates 1887–1893 prominently engraved on the front celebrate the company’s first six years of existence, proudly anchoring their new West Virginia identity.

2. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition

The structure on the front is a representation of Fostoria’s dedicated exhibition pavilion or display kiosk erected inside the grand halls (most likely the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building) at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

During this historic World’s Fair, premier American glasshouses built elaborate, enclosed booths to show off their finest craftsmanship to millions of international visitors. The words on the base—Candelabra, Colognes, Cut Glass, Tableware—served as a directory of what a visitor would see displayed inside that exact lattice-walled booth.

3. Why a Metal Lid?

While glass companies typically manufactured glass lids, high-end promotional or advertising inkstands from this era were frequently paired with metal closures. The classicizing, laurel-wreathed figure on the lid evokes the commemorative medals that dominated the 1893 Exposition (which celebrated Christopher Columbus and neoclassical “White City” architecture). It is likely that Fostoria utilized a specialized metal manufacturer to supply these commemorative lids to give the piece a premium, durable finish.