Hobbies And Interests
History
The most well known manufacturer of Goofus glass was the Indiana Glass Company. Goofus glass was produced from 1900 to 1930. When the iridized glass process was discovered, the population gravitated towards purchasing this new type of glassware, and dropped their interest in Goofus glass. Some of the other slang names given to it were Hooligan Hoolies, Bridal Glass and Gypsy Glass. Originally, it was sold to the public under names such as Egyptian Art, Golden Oriental, Oriental Art or Intaglio Art. It predates Carnival glass, by just a bit, but might be thought of as the first Carnival glass, as it was manufactured and used for the same purposes.
Pieces
Goofus glass was manufactured in many different pieces, such as oil lanterns, plates, coasters, vases, salt and pepper shakers, cream and sugar bowls, fruit bowls, candy and nut dishes, teapot sets, punch bowl sets and more. The coloring on these pieces were quite gaudy in appearance, with most decorated in gold, red and green.
Collections
At the time Goofus glass was manufactured, it was treated almost as a "throw away" item, with little value. However, today's collectors will pay quite a bit for an intact piece, especially if it is a full set, and the paint is not chipped, or chipped very little. Also very popular with collectors are the special occasion or holiday pieces that are in short supply.
Patterns
The glass was molded with a depiction of an item, such as flowers, leaves, animals, insects or fruit raised above the surface. Each manufacturer produced their own motifs to distinguish themselves from the others. There were two types of cold-painting procedures used on Goofus glass. The first process was referred to as "All Over Décor," in which the glassware was completely painted on one side. "Pattern Décor," was the second type of paint process. This covered only the relief design on the glass, leaving the background unpainted.
Care
Care for your historical pieces of Goofus glass by keeping them out of dusty areas. The less they need to be cleaned and handled, the longer the paint will remain intact. When cleaning is necessary, wash the inside thoroughly with a damp cloth. Wipe dust off of the exterior gently. Do not store your Goofus glass in areas that are subject to temperature extremes. This may cause the exterior paint to become brittle, and flake off of the piece.