Erskine Glass and Manufacturing Co

GLASS
ERSKINE GLASS
AND
MANUFACTURING
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
glass animal covered dishes
by Jennifer Patton
ERSKINE GLASS AND
MANUFACTURING CO.
copyright © 2022 by Jennifer Patton
All rights reserved. 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 by anyone
other than the copyright holder.

Erskine glass & Manufacturing company
Erskine was an illuminating glass company. Not much has been spoken
about Erskine Glass & MFG Co. of Wellsburg W.V. Steubenville, OH natives:
John O Erskine and William Erskine and Pittsburgh, PA natives: J.G.
Simpon, Robert S. Cain and D.S. Swaney formed the company. Erskine
Glass & MFG Co began in Steubenville, OH on June 20, 1919. The company
was relocated to Wellsburg, WV and would remain there until it closed its
doors in 1975. Brooke County (Wellsburg, WV) was rich in glass history and
once had over 30 glass factories including Riverside. Erskine glass factory
was located at 22nd St. and Yankee St. in the old Dalzell glass factory. 99%
of early glassware produced by Erskine was lighting, lamps, lamp globes
and lamp shades in Crystal and White Milk Glass. Later, they produced hand
painted milk glass bells and ashtrays and colorful lamp globes and animal
covered dishes. In 1934, when Co-Operative Flint Glass Company shut
down, Erskine acquired their Frog, 7" dome lidded Elephant, and Walking
Bear molds. They produced Turtle ACDs 1920's-1930's / Bear, Elephant, and
Frog ACDs in the 1930's / Frog and Elephant ACDs again 1960's-1970's. As
for the Bear, Erskine got the mold because it appeared on L.G. Wright's
inventory list of 1938. Erskine sold glass to Wright from 1937-'38. The Co-op
Bear mold would be donated to the WWII Iron Scrap drive by 1941.
Questions... "Did Erskine also acquire the Whale mold? Where was the Co-
op Whale mold between 1934-1941? Why didn't Erskine reproduce it? It was
also lost to the scrap drive. Where were the Co-op Cat and Dog molds?
Where were the other lids to the small Elephant? We know the Frog and
Small Elephant with domed lid molds survived the scrap drive because
Erskine reproduced both after the scrap drive using original Co-op molds.
Between the 1938 and 1960's, Erskine
lost or damaged the Elephant lid mold.
Later produced Erskine Elephants have
newly created lids.
It is not known where Erskine got
the Turtle mold.
Erskine did not purchase the Cat or
Dog molds from Co-Operative Flint. Label found on later-made
Erskine animal covered dishes
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© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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Erskine glass & Manufacturing company
The Bear mold was scrapped. The Whale mold was scrapped. Erskine
probably never owned the Whale mold. The Elephant mold went to
Wheaton Industries, then to Indiana Glass Company. It is not known where
the Frog mold went. The Turtle mold ended up with Si Wright and later
went to the National Milk Glass Collector's Society.
Erskine Glass and Manufacturing Company closed its doors in 1975, but was
officially deemed out of business May 18, 1983, dissolution by court order.
Brooke County in West Virginia was rich in glass history. You may visit the
Brooke County Historical Museum and Cultural Center located in
Wellsburg, WV. to learn more.

Erskine glass & Mfg Co. BEAR
Erskine Glass & Manufacturing Company Bear is a reproduction of the
original Co-Operative Flint Glass Walking Bear. Co-op produced the Bear
1927-1931. Erskine bought the mold in 1934 when Co-op went out of
business. It is not known which Bear colors were produced by Erskine,
but it was indeed made by Erskine. At the very least, Erskine poured 3
dozen Bears for L.G. Wright in 1937-'38. Wright's inventory listed 3 dozen
Bears. Erskine Glass & MFG Co sold animal covered dishes to Si Wright.
The Bear mold was later donated to the WWII Iron Scrap Drive before
1941. Bear is unmarked. 8" long.
I had no Erskine Bear photos to show.
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© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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frog DISH by UNKNOWN MAKER
Unknown maker reproduction Frog of the Vallerysthal 1894-1908 #3769
Frog surfaced ca. 1915-1925. It was only in Pastel Green iridescent. The
unknown Frog maker is where Co-Operative Flint may have acquired the
mold. Frog dish was reproduced by Co-Op 1927-1930's and by Erskine
Glass & MFG. Co. 1934/'37-1938 and 1960's-1970's. Erskine acquired the
Co-Operative Flint Frog mold in 1934.
Following excerpt is pg. 108 from Marion Hartung's book via an online
site: https://www.hookedoncarnival.com
"Many of the covered animal dishes in CARNIVAL GLASS are known in
only one color. This is true of the small frog shown here. Since that color
happens to be a PASTEL GREEN in this case, nothing could be more
appropriate. One can hardly imagine a bright orange frog, even though
realism was not considered essential to the makers of IRIDESCENT
GLASS.
This perky little fellow is of medium weight glass, HIGHLY IRIDESCENT
with the PASTEL-TYPE of coloring we have learned to associate with
pieces having been made on a PASTEL SHADE OF BASE GLASS. The
interior of the figure seems to have even more of the IRIDESCENCE than
does the outside. The bulging glass EYES ARE MOLDED in with the rest of
the figure, and simply have BLACK PAINT APPLIED to make the contrast.
Honesty compels us to admit that we are not overly familiar with frogs
as such, but the detail here seems good to us, and the general effect
seems realistic.
The piece stands 4 inches high at the tallest point, and measures 5
1/2" in length. Search as we will, the maker is unknown. This would be
quite a desirable addition to any collection of CARNIVAL GLASS animal
shapes. IT WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE A FINE COMPANION PIECE FOR THE
COVERED TURTLE SHOWN IN OUR BOOK 5."-----Marion T. Hartung

frog DISH BY UNKNOWN MAKER
The example frog shared to Hartung's book was courtesy of Mr. and Mrs.
De Layne Eigenberg of Fairbury, Nebraska. Like the matching Turtle in
Hartung's Book 5, parts of the Frog were painted black.
I have seen a handful of Pastel Green Iridescent Frogs online for sale. The
bases are marked but I do not recognize the maker's mark.
You may view one here:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-frosted-satin-green-
glass-1901990829
and here:
https://www.ddoty.com/coveredfrog.html
This is the mark seen on Pastel Green
Iridescent Frogs with painted black eyes.
Appears to be H i
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© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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Erskine glass & Mfg Co. frog
Erskine Glass & Manufacturing Company Frog is a reproduction of the
original Co-Operative Flint Glass #548 Frog Jar. Co-op produced the Frog
1927-1931. Erskine bought the mold in 1934 when Co-op went out of
business. In 1937-1938, Erskine poured the Frog and sold 2 dozen Frogs to
L.G. Wright. They may have sold more to Wright, but we can only prove what
Wright's 1938 Inventory showed, 2 dozen. The colors produced for Wright are
not known. Between 1960's-1970's, Erskine produced the Frog again in these
colors: Dark Amber (Beer Bottle), Black Milk Glass, Crystal, Crystal Satin,
Green, Olive Green, Smoke, Pink and White milk glass. Other colors possible.
Early Erskine Frogs for Wright were unmarked. Later Erskine Frogs were
marked with Red/Gold foil labels which read Glass by Erskine Wellsburg
W.VA.
Because this Frog was produced using the original Co-Op mold, mutual
colors in Green and Pink are difficult to ID. Unless Erskine labels are still
present, one would need to view Co-Op and Erskine Frogs side by side to see
a difference in colors. Co-Op produced higher quality glass.
Erskine Frog is 5 1/2" long.
I had no Erskine Frog photos to share.

Erskine glass & Mfg co. elephant
Erskine Glass & MFG Co. Elephant is a reproduction of the original 7 1/2"
Cooperative Flint Glass Dome lidded #554 Elephant 1927-1930's. Erskine
bought the small Elephant mold in 1934 when Co-Op Flint closed. Erskine
was primarily an illuminating company, making lights and light fixtures so
the Elephant covered dish may come as a surprise. Erskine first produced
the Elephant after 1934 and also sold to L.G. Wright in 1937/'38. The 1938 L.G.
Wright inventory listed 3 dozen Elephants on hand. Because Erskine animal
covered dishes never appeared in any of Wright's photos/ads/catalogs, it is
not known which Elephant colors Wright purchased from Erskine. It is not
known how many more than 36 were made for Wright, but my guess is none
were produced after the Erskine Turtle mold disappeared. Wright/Erskine
communications probably ended after the Turtle mold was not returned.
Fenton Art Glass began to pour glass for L.G. Wright around the same time,
1938.
The Elephant mold survived the WWII iron scrap drive. Later Erskine
Elephants made 1969-1970's were produced in Dark Amber (Beer bottle),
Black Milk Glass, Crystal, Pink, Green, Olive Green, Smoke and White Milk
Glass. Other colors possible. Over the many years, the lid molds were lost or
broken. Later Elephants have replacement lids.
Erskine Elephants are unmarked. Elephants made for Wright were not
labeled. Later Elephants made 1969-1970's had Red/Gold foil labels which
read Glass by Erskine Wellsburg W.VA. Label may still be present. 7 1/2" long.
Elephant mold went to Wheaton Industries
around 1980/'81. Wheaton could not
produce the Elephant Dish nor could they
open the mold properly.
Indiana Glass Company got the mold
from Wheaton. Indiana produced the
Elephant Dish for themselves in 1981.
Indiana produced the Elephant Dish for
Tiara Exclusives 1983-'87.
This label is found on
Fenton acquired the mold after 2002.
Erskine Elephants
Fenton never reproduced the Elephant Dish.
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Erskine glass & Mfg Co. elephant
Photos taken from:
https://magwv.pastperfectonline.com/Webobject/2AF75DDB-81A3-4C28-9849-
561233044194
Courtesy of MAGWV, Museum of American Glass of West Virginia

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 9
tURTLE DISH by UNKNOWN MAKER
An early reported Covered "Knobby Back" Turtle Dish in an atypical color
was shared by a couple from Indianapolis, Indiana. The following
excerpt is from pg 105 of Marion Hartung's book via an online site:
https://www.hookedoncarnival.com
"Mr. and Mrs. Herb Ripley of Indianapolis, Indiana, have graciously
shared this treasure from their collection with us. Their pet name for him
is "Old Mossback", and the lovely SHIMMERING PASTEL GREEN OF
WHICH HE IS MADE, makes the title more than fitting. Either at the time
he was made or somewhere along the line, his HEAD, TAIL AND FEET
HAVE BEEN PAINTED BLACK. But rather than detracting from the general
effect, this only seems to contrast nicely with the IRIDESCENCE.
The back of the turtle, patterned here in a most realistic design, lifts
off and is light in weight. Except for the cavity under this lid, all of the
rest of the animal is of solid glass. This makes it a very heavy piece,
usable as a door-stop as well as candy dish.
He is of generous size, being nine and one-half inches long, and
standing about four inches tall to the top of the back.
Truly this must be considered one of the rarities of CARNIVAL GLASS.
Although his maker is quite unknown, the general era is of the late 'teens
or early twentys, so far as we now know." ----The Ripleys
The pastel Green iridescent Turtle with Black paint is by an unknown
maker. However, there is a matching Frog which is marked and is a
reproduction of the original Vallerysthal 1894-1908 #3769 Frog. This
unknown Frog maker ca. 1915-1925 is where Co-Operative Flint may
have acquired the Frog mold. The Frog dish was reproduced by Co-Op
1927-1930's and then by Erskine Glass & MFG. Co. 1937-1938 and 1960's-
1970's.

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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Erskine glass & Mfg Co. Turtle Dish
This information is VERY IMPORTANT, or at least I think it is... I came across
an online sales record on Worthpoint which was labeled as "RARE 1920'S
ERSKINE GLASS COVERED TURTLE DISH ~ MILK-WHITE OPAQUE ~" and I put it
on the back burner, never thinking anymore about it. BUT! while working on
Erskine Elephants, I came across a second Worthpoint post, this time labeled
as "RARE 1927 ERSKINE GLASS COVERED TURTLE DISH WELLSBURG WV MILK
GLASS & CLEAR". Then I was intrigued! I had been searching for the missing
link between Erskine Elephants and LG Wright Glass Company and had found
another Wright animal covered dish and again, Erskine Glass & MFG Co name
appeared? So, going further down the hypothetical glass research "rabbit
hole", I couldn't ignore this second Worthpoint post. Fact: The Turtle Dish
was made in both Milk Glass and Crystal because of the mismatched lid. Fact:
There was a note inside the Turtle Dish from the owner showing provenance
of the Dish. Fact: The original owner simply did not get her own Wedding Day
date wrong. Fact: Erskine Glass & MFG Co. produced both Crystal and White
Opaque (milk glass). Fact: Erskine Glass & MFG Co loaned out the Turtle mold
to someone and it was claimed to be "lost" and never returned. Fact: 1937
L.G. Wright invoice proved that Wright had 4 dozen turtles on hand. Fact:
Fenton poured the Knobby Back Turtle mold for L.G Wright 1937-1940's.
It appears that Mr. Wright or one of his associates took the Turtle mold. But
how did he pull it off? The owner and maker of this Turtle Dish was Erskine.
This note states: "Made at the
Erskine Glass + Manufacturing co.
Wellsburg W.V. in 1927. Given to
me as a wedding gift Sept 2, 1927
Cecil and Nona Garretson of
Wellsburg W.V"
Either the married couple were
the Garretsons or the people who
gifted the 1927 Turtle were the
Garretsons. Either way, they lived
in Wellsburg, W.V and would have
been totally aware of where they purchased the Turtle; Erskine Glass of Wellsburg, W.V.
My point here is how very important the provenance of unmarked glass animal covered
dishes is. This note alone was written 10 years before L.G. Wright Glass Company was
formed in 1936-'37. Fun fact: Wright Glass Company was only 54 miles from Erskine.

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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Erskine glass & Mfg Co. turtle dish
It is not known where Erskine got the Turtle mold. It was not part of the 1934
acquisition of Co-op ACDs. Original Co-Op molds plus the Turtle ALL appeared
on the 1938 L.G. Wright Inventory list:
4 dozen Turtles, 3 dozen Elephants, 3 dozen Bears, 2 dozen Frogs
These were poured by Erskine and purchased by Wright. This was common
practice of Si Wright, to travel to glass factories and order a few pieces here
and there to resell.
Erskine poured the Turtle in White Milk Glass and Crystal. I also believe Erskine
produced the **hard-to-find** Pink Turtles. Pink was a color Erskine produced
using original Cooperative Flint molds, i.e.: Pink Elephants, Pink Frogs and
possibly Pink Bears.
It is my opinion White Milk Glass Turtles which we have been attributing as
poured-by-Westmoreland-Company-in-the-1980's-for-L.G. Wright-using-
Wright's-mold could have been poured by Erskine 1920-1927, 10 years before
L.G Wright formed his glass company. Meaning: the 1920's Turtles by Erskine
were marketed for themselves. Erskine would have been producing the Turtle,
Bear, Elephant and Frog and in 1937, while Si Wright traveled in search of glass
ideas, he fancied the Turtle dish and ordered 4 dozen made in White Milk
Glass. He also ordered 3 dozen Elephants, 2 dozen Frogs and 3 dozen Bears. I
could not find which Elephant, Frog and Bear colors Wright purchased from
Erskine. Wright did not own these original Cooperative Flint molds. Erskine
did.
---After 1937, Fenton poured White milk glass Turtles for Wright---
---Both Erskine and Fenton poured White---
You may view the Worthpoint sales posts:
Type in Erskine Turtle on www.worthpoint.com

Erskine glass & Mfg Co. turtle dish
After 1937, Fenton poured the Knobby Back Turtle for L.G. Wright in Crystal,
light Amber, dark Amber, Emerald Green, and White milk glass. Never in Pink
transparent. Wright had 48 turtles on his 1938 inventory list. Meaning: Si Wright
now had possession of the Turtle mold. Remember! Erskine said they loaned it
out and the mold was never returned. Si Wright was who it was loaned out to.
He took it to Fenton. I believe this was when Wright had his opportunity to
"claim and keep" the Turtle mold as his own, while it was at the Fenton glass
factory. Fenton poured the Turtle for years for Wright. Si Wright went on to
"own" the Turtle mold for the rest of his life and much longer. In 1983/'84,
Westmoreland poured the Turtle mold in Chocolate Milk Glass for L.G. Wright
using Wright's mold. Historically, Si Wright had molds reworked; even re-
created. Circumstantial evidence may prove this was not the case with the
Turtle. Timing and execution were perfect. Motive would have been present.
The Turtle dish is a one-of-a-kind beautiful ACD. It is one of my favorite pieces!
Erskine Turtle Dish is unmarked. Heads may have drooped during the cooling
process causing gaps where lids meet bases. Some heads may be straighter.
This would have been caused by glassworkers' handling. 11" long.
The Turtle mold was reproduced by L.G. Wright between 1937-1983/'84.
Glass was poured by Fenton and Westmoreland Glass. Wright had
possession of the mold.
Photos by Denise Brouillette, Marian Lanchman and Jennifer Patton
© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
Page 13
erskine glass & manufacturing company
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Erskine Glass & MFG Co:
Book: The L.G. Wright Glass Company by James Measell and W.C "Red"
Roetteis, published by The Glass Press, Inc. dba Antique Publications,
copyright 1997, Page 11- 1938 INVENTORY LIST, Pages 10-12 -ERSKINE
FOR WRIGHT ANIMAL COVERED DISHES
Online: www.ndga.net/rainbow/1976/76rrg09d.php - National
Depression Glass Association article "Glass Covered Frog & Elephant
items" by Mary Van Pelt, Rainbow Review Glass Journal - September
1976-LOST TURTLE MOLD
Correspondence: with Tom Felt of MAGWV-PHOTO
Online: https://www.theintelligencer.net/life/features/2019/07/theres-
always-something-new-in-antiques/ July 14, 2019 article in Wheeling
News-Register "There's Always Something New in Antiques" by Maureen
Zambito-HISTORY
Online: https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?
vid=01CORNING_INST:01CORNING_INST&DOCID=ALMA99526943504126
&context=L&virtualBrowse=true -CATALOGS
Online: https://www.worthpoint.com -LINKS TO TURTLE PHOTOS
Book: Fenton Glass Made for Other Companies 1907-1980 by Carrie and
Gerald Domitz, published by Collector Books a division of Schroeder
Publishing Co., Inc., copyright 2005 by Carrie and Gerald Domitz, Page
164-TURTLE COLORS POURED BY FENTON FOR WRIGHT
Book: Eighth Book of Carnival Glass, First Edition, Second Printing 1968,
by Marion T. Hartung, Page 108 -Frog description by Mr. and Mrs. De
Layne Eigenberg from Fairbury, Nebraska -FROG, UNKNOWN MAKER
Online: www.hookedoncarnival.com: Direct weblink:
https://www.hookedoncarnival.com/wp-
content/uploads/library/Marion%20T.%20Hartung%20-
%20Eighth%20Book%20Carnival%20Glass.pdf -FROG IN PASTEL GREEN
IRIDESCENT PAGE 108 FROM HARTUNG BOOK

© Glass Animal Covered Dishes by Jennifer Patton
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erskine glass & manufacturing company
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Erskine Glass & MFG Co:
Online: www.hookedoncarnival.com: Direct weblink:
https://www.hookencarnival.com/wp-
content/uploads/library/Marion%20T.%20Hartung%20-
%20Fifth%20Book%20Carnival%20Glass.pdf -TURTLE IN PASTEL GREEN
IRIDESCENT PAGE 105 FROM HARTUNG BOOK
Online: https://www.ddoty.com/coveredfrog.html -FROG IN PASTEL
GREEN IRIDESCENT PHOTO
Online: https://brookecountywvgenealogy.org/industrial2.html -
HISTORY
Thank you for your permissions!
James Measell
Bob Rawlings, curator of Dunkirk Museum
Tom Felt, MAGWV
https://www.hookedoncarnival.com
ALL photo contributors