The Australian Crystal Glass Company
Limited was established during 1914 at Dixson Buildings, 64 Pitt Street, Sydney, with the
factory at Wyndham Street, Alexandria. The managing director was Nigel C. Barker.
Manufacturing pressed and blown glasswares, the Head Office was moved
to Dibbo Chambers, 58 Pitt Street, Sydney, during 1916 where it remained until 1922, when
the Head Office was at Broughton House, 181 Clarence Street (corner King Street), Sydney.
Also trading as Crystal Glass Limited, this firm amalgamated with Australian Glass
Manufacturing Company Limited.
A new factory was built on the site of Smarts Glassworks, later to
become the Zetland Glass Bottle Works, which was opened in February 1925. The Wyndham
Street factory continued to operate. Now known as Crown Crystal Glass Company Limited, an
agency was developed with the parent company at 420-428 Spencer Street, Melbourne, which
operated until 1959 when it moved to Booker Street, South Melbourne. During 1963 Crown
Crystal Glass Company Limited became a division of Australian Consolidated Industries.
Since then this firm has further strengthened their monopoly in the glass industry by
joining forces with an American firm to trade as Crown Corning Limited, 866-882 Bourke
Street, Waterloo.
Crystal Glass Company Limited produced most of its carnival glass in
the mid to late 1920s. Of their most famous carnival glass patterns, the 'Kingfisher' was
registered in 1923, while the 'Kangaroo', the 'Swan', the 'Emu', the 'Kookaburra', the
'Magpie', and the 'Waratah' were registered in 1924. Production of most of these patterns
had ceased by 1929. A 'Koala' pattern and a 'Lyrebird' pattern were also registered in
1924, but appear to have never made it into production - at least none have surfaced so
far. The 'Kiwi' pattern was registered in 1926.
Like most other carnival glass manufacturers, Crystal Glass Company
Limited made carnival glass in a variety of shapes, including small and large bowls,
compotes, cake salvers, pitchers, tumblers, sugar bowls, creamers, butter dishes, vases,
float bowls, and flower frogs. Under the Crown Corning label in later years, items were
also manufactured under the 'Gem Lustre' label.
Carnival glass by Crystal Glass Company Limited was made primarily in
two colors - 'marigold' and 'dark'. 'Marigold' is an orange iridescence on clear glass,
while the base glass of 'dark' can very from light purple through to black, with a silvery
iridescence. A few aqua based marigold pieces exist, and these have a light aqua color to
the glass around the base only.
If you would like to see some photos of Australian carnival glass
please visit our Gallery pages.
