Bryce, Higbee & Company

GLASS
BRYCE, HIGBEE
& COMPANY
ANIMAL
COVERED
DISHES*
IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
*CHICKENS NOT INCLUDED
JENNIFER PATTON

ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Jen and this is a little bit about myself. First, I must say this project was a lot of fun.
Like a book from my gradeschool years lol. I don’t know if children today still do book reports, but when
I was in school, they were required and boy did I dread reading the assigned books then having to
summarize them! I loved reading books that interested me and hopefully this will interest you. I created
it for anyone that needs help with identification. For the novice glass collectors that buy animal covered
dishes because they fall in love with the way they look or the type of animals they are, or simply for
their colors. For the avid collectors who enjoy buying a few of each animal regardless of the maker. For
the veteran collectors who may have hundreds of glass dishes who never cease to amaze me with their
beautiful collections. For the people that have inherited or purchased someone’s entire collection or
part of a collection and need help to identify things. For the people like me that are meticulous about
every detail needing to label things and just absolutely need to know the whats, whens, whos, hows and
whys of the animal dishes they own. For me, what started with one Asian yellow stained glass bunny on
a nest, has flourished into a full blown collection of hundreds of mixed and matched animal covered
“candy” dishes of all glass types and colors. No particular glass maker, just everything I can’t live
without. LOL. Anyone that knows me would tell you that I stop at nothing, studying book after book
searching for answers about my own glass animals until I find them. I have never been satisfied with a
mystery….unless it involves me watching Columbo, my lifelong favorite television program! I am a
mystery solver... a true detective. I get this from my Mother, Cindy -Sultana- Wheatley. I need to get to
the bottom of a piece of unidentified glass. It drives me bananas not to know everything I can about
each piece that I own. Next, I will tell you that the monetary value of my glassware means nothing to
me. I collect it because I love it. However, unique and rare is always a find! Sure, like every collector, I
love a bargain and have had to pass up many pieces that I could not afford. Ooooh the ones that got
away. They haunt me. I can assure you that when I get a new addition to my collection, it has found its
forever home. Someone before me and usually possibly before them owned these animal covered
dishes making a kind of history that I can only imagine in my mind, its importance to each person. There
is a reason behind every single glassware in every single dwelling. Glass symbolizes many things. It is
proudly displayed. It is important to the person who owns it. I enjoy seeing the happiness glassware
brings to people, especially these animal covered dishes. Who doesn’t love animals? I also enjoy seeing
my collection knowing these pieces of history live on and hope that when I am long gone, they will be in
other homes. My glass brings me peace; most peaceful in the evenings when the cabinet lights are on
and the glass does its natural thing; what it was intended to do since the day it was made...look pretty!
To me, it is reminiscent of having a year round Christmas Tree. Glass is AMAZING! I am a country girl
through and through. I love all things nature. I am an avid bird watcher and an all around animal lover. I
live in the beautiful state of Kentucky with my husband and our two dogs, Monkey and Johnnie, who by
the way, is named after my all time favorite singer, Johnny Cash.

glass animal covered dishes
© Jennifer patton
No parts of this work may be reproduced without written permission
from the copyright holder.
No parts of this work may be reproduced for financial gain.
Because this is a reference eBook, it may be downloaded and stored
for educational purposes.

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 1
bRYCE, hIGBEE & cOMPANY
Bryce, Higbee & Company of Pittsburgh, PA was founded in 1879 by John Bryce
and his son Charles who were raised in the glass business, along with Joseph
Doyle and John B. Higbee. John Bryce died in 1888. John Higbee was the general
sales manager of the factory, which was known as Homestead Glass Works. They
mainly produced tableware but produced several animal covered dishes which
were: Bear, Turtle, Dog and Frog. They also made colorless dishes with Butterfly
finials produced in 1880-'81, but I will not cover these.
The glass factory was destroyed by a flood in 1907. John B. Higbee died around
this same time. His son Orlando (Ollie) Higbee acquired the molds and equipment
that survived the flood. He had a new glass factory built in Bridgeville, PA and
named it after his deceased father, J.B. Higbee Glass Company. Be careful not
confuse either of these companies with Bryce Brothers (1850-1965). They were 3
separate glass companies.

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 2
Bryce, Higbee & company bear
introducing the turtle in the menagerie toy set
Bryce, Higbee & Company Bear Horse Radish Jar, circa 1885 was offered in Crystal,
Blue, and Old Gold (Amber). A utensil slot is on the rear side of the lid. 4 1/2" high.
There is also an identical Bear without a slot. It is a covered sugar. Offered in Crystal,
Blue and Old Gold (Amber), the sugar was part of Bryce, Higbee & Co. four piece
Menagerie Toy Set as advertised in their 1885 ad. The toys include an Owl Creamer: 3
1/2" high, Fish Spooner: 3 1/4" high, Turtle Butter: 3" high x 4 " long and the Bear
Sugar: 4 1/2" high. In 2012, a complete set in Blue sold at auction for $1,600.00. The
complete set is ***RARE*** in any color. The Turtle Butter being the hardest piece to
find.
Blue Turtle Butter
Courtesy of Denise Brouillette
1885 Toy Set Advertisement
Courtesy of Tom Felt, MAGWV
where the notch
would be if this
was a mustard/
horseRadish jar
Crystal Bear Sugar photos
Courtesy of Marian Lanchman
Amber Bear Sugar
by Roger Haworth

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 3
Bryce, Higbee & company dog match box
Bryce, Higbee & Company Dog Match Box was produced in the mid to
late 1880's. It was offered in Crystal, Blue and Amber. Dog is a Scottish
Terrier. 5" long. No known reproductions.
Amber Dog photos courtesy of
www.eBay.com/str/tidewatermall

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 3.2
Bryce, Higbee & company dog match box
Photos are courtesy of Amruta Rhodes

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 3.1
Bryce, Higbee & company dog match box
Opacity Partners
Denise Brouillette

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 4
Bryce, Higbee & company Frog
Bryce, Higbee & Company Frog Butter Dish was produced in the mid 1880's and
appeared in an 1887 catalog. It was offered in Crystal, Blue and Amber. The Frog's
nickname is "DUKE". 8 1/4" long x 6 1/4" wide. 3 " high.
LG Wright had a new mold made. There are many differences in Wright's mold.
Made in Blue & White slag and several transparent colors. Wright called it Frog
Candy Box with Cover.
National Milk Glass Collector's Society purchase the Wright mold in 1999 and
still own the mold. They had the frog poured in Green/White in 2003 and White
Milk Glass in 2008. These were special issues of Commemorative Club pieces.
Amber

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 5
Bryce, Higbee & company Frog
L.G. Wright Reproduction
Bryce, Higbee & Co.
Notice how the reproduction toes are not part of the scallop like the original
Designs on frogs' faces are different
Notice the gap between the edge of dish and toes on the Reproduction
Notice the patterns are not the same
Photos provided by Denise Brouillette and Jennifer Patton

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 6
bryce, higbee & company
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bryce, Higbee & Company
Book: Glass Animals & Figurines by Debbie & Randy Coe, published by
Schiffer Publishing Ltd., copyright 2003 Page 19-BEAR,OWL,FISH
MEASUREMENTS
Interview with Paul Kirk Jr., Author of Homestead Glass Works: Bryce,
Higbee & Company, 1879-1907-DOG COLORS, FROG COLORS,
MENAGERIE COLORS
Online: https://bridgevillehistory.org/the-j-b-higbee-glass-
company/#:~:text=The%20J.%20B.%20Higbee -HISTORY
Online: EAPGS Pattern Index - MENAGERIE TOY SET (OMN) -MENAGERIE
AD/COLORS Online: EAPGS Pattern Index - DOG MATCH BOX (AKA) -DOG
MATCH BOX YEAR
Online: 2003 Green Flat Frog - NMGCS -MENTION OF 1887 BRYCE,
HIGBEE CATALOG Online: EAPGS Pattern Index - BUTTERFLY (OMN) bryh
-CLEAR DISH, BUTTERFLY FINIAL
Thank you for your permissions!
Randy Coe
Paul Kirk Jr.
Tom Felt, MAGWV
ALL photo contributors