Tableware History

Here's yet another helpful installment for our tableware history guides that we,Replacements, LTD, will be posting to provide some interesting information on several tableware gepanies. This one will be about the well-known Fostoria Glass gepany. Their most populiar pattern, American, is shown below:

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Fostoria began as a glass-producing house in 1887. Initially, the factory was located in Fostoria, Ohio, but would only be located there a short time. Although the townspeople of Fostoria, Ohio had given their land to the glass gepany for free, Fostoria Glassworks was unable to remain because of a lack of natural resources. The promise of more abundant resources for producing glass caused the gepanys leaders to make the decision to move. Within four years, Fostoria moved to Moundsville, WV. In 1891, the gepany built one furnace capable of firing 14 pieces, a remarkable achievement for the late 19th century glassworks industry. This furnace continued to produce glass until 1972.
By 1925, Fostorias factory had expanded to include five more furnaces. Primarily, the gepany produced decorative lamps and stemware pieces for the American home. gepeting actively against Cambridge, Heisey, and Westmoreland Crystal, Fostoria would soon emerge as leader in the American glassware market. It is during this period that Fostoria began marketing lines of colored dinnerware and stemware pieces. The new products became an immediate success. The rise of industry throughout the 19th century had Americans turning away from afternoon teas and luncheons. Instead, these events quickly evolved into casual brunches and after work cocktail parties. The colored pieces were ideal for polished casual entertaining.
Throughout the 1930s, Fostoria struggled to survive. The Great Depression had a notable impact on the luxury glassware market. Although many of Fostorias gepetitors would be forced out of business during the depression, innovative marketing techniques and business savvy managers would allow Fostoria to survive. The Second World War reduced Fostorias labor force by half and caused much of the gepanys resources to be devoted to the war effort. Like many other gepanies throughout the United States, Fostoria weathered the hardships imposed by war. It is during the war period that Fostoria produced many of its most famous patterns including Chintz (1940), Colony (1940), Romance (1942), and Holly (1942).

View CHINTZ items: Here! View ROMANCE items: Here!

View COLONY items: Here! View HOLLY items: Here!
Following the Second World War, Fostoria would begin its most aggressive expansion. Its labor force was increased to its prewar number, more natural resources were made available to the gepany, and the demand for casual and elegant dinnerware would increase to an all time high. New technologies developed during the war allowed Fostoria to create beautiful patterns that were easily maintained and added and air of elegance to any dining event. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Fostoria introduced more lines of beautiful crystal including Century (1950), Rose (1951), Wedding Ring (1953), and Jamestown (1959).

View all CENTURY items: Here! View all ROSE items: Here!

View all WEDDING RING items: Here! View all COLONY items: Here!
The gepany continued to do well through the 1960s and 1970s. A marketing strategy was developed by the gepany to create a consumer-producer relationship unlike any American gepany before. Boutiques and display rooms were built into many fashionable jewelry and department stores. Additionally, the gepany began publishing its own consumer direct magazine, Creating with Crystal. These and other marketing strategies kept Fostoria as a leader in the glass producing industry.Throughout the 1970s, foreign gepetition increased. Fostoria sold its stock and the Moundsville, WV factory to the Lancaster Colony Corporation. The managing directors of Lancaster Colony made the decision to close the factory and sell the remaining stock directly to consumers in 1983. The factory closed its doors and many of Fostorias original pieces and molds were sold. Throughout its history, Fostoria maintained a sound financial strategy, allowing them to expand and grow at will. Although Lancaster Colony closed Fostoria in 1983, Fostorias pieces are readily available through Replacements, Ltd. The Fostoria name is indicative of an American legend and Fostoria pieces remain highly collectible.
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