The following treasure is from the living estate of Ailene & Buddy Ford; noted dealers and lifelong collectors of exceptional antique & vintage heirlooms. The Ford estate presents highly valuable items from a diverse group of genres, 95% + in excellent condition. This exquisite estate has something for every eclectic collector! xxxxxxxxxxx. The AEAA is exceptionally proud to showcase this TWICE RARE 1880s & 1890s Cranberry Opalescent brides basket set, featuring a magnificent hand blown 1882-1887 Hobbs Brockunier vertical stripe flared & crimped bowl, perched in a RARE and ornate Cohannet Quadruple silver plate basket stand. Our incredible Cranberry bowl is classic Hobbs, hand blown quality with a wonderful crimped rim and outstanding Opalescence. The Rare Cohannet (Taunton Ma.) basket is striking, and hails from 1896- 1905. Together, our basket entails 2 very rare pieces, that come together in one brilliant display. Our Hobbs bowl measures 9.5 x 9.5 x 4.5 inches deep, and the floral basket sits 12.75 x 9.75 x 11.75 inches tall, weighing 2# 8 oz., and both are in excellent condition. xxxxxxxxxxx. In 1845 John L. Hobbs and James B. Barnes leased and latter purchased an idle glasshouse which was known as the South Wheeling Glass Works. Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Barnes were former employees of the New England Glass Company. Mr. Barnes an engineer designed and constructed the furnaces at New England Glass. Mr. Hobbs was the foreman of the glass cutting shop at New England. In 1849 John L. Hobbs died the company changed their name from Barnes, Hobbs and Company to Hobbs, Barnes and Company. James F. Barnes was James B. Barnes son. Father and son owned more than 50% of the stock in the company. After James B. Barnes death J. L. Hobbs son J. H. Hobbs entered the business. We must also assume there was a change in owner stock ownership in favor of the Hobbs family. In 1863 James F. Barnes retired resulting in John H. Hobbs controlling the Company. He took in two new partners, James Leighton (chemist and glass Blower) and Charles W. Brockunier (bookkeeper). The company name was again change to J. H. Hobbs, Brockunier and Company. They produced flint glass or clear glassware including bar wares, lamps, lamp chimneys, commercial containers and apothecary ware. The most recognized name, simply Hobbs, Brockunier & Co. was in operation from 1881-1888, when the partnership was dissolved. This period included the devastating 1882 fire, from which the factory was rebuilt. Work continued until late 1887, and then came the dissolution, leaving only John L. Hobbs, and his new company Hobbs Glass Co. The entity lasted only until the U.S. Glass formation in 1891. xxxxxxxxxxx. Very little is known about this short lived and quality manufacturer of fine silver plate items. Cohannet Silver Co. of Taunton, MA., was listed in business from 1903-1911. However, Federal records verify that this named entity was established in 1896. The ending date of 1911 cannot be correct, as in 1915, the Wm. A Rogers Ltd Co. filed a cease & desist law suit in Federal District Court of Rhode Island (186 Fed. 241), to force Cohannet to stop using the name Rogers in their new stamps. Apparently, Cohannet had employed an A.O. Rogers, and decided to incorporate as the H.O. Rogers Silver Co. Needless to say, that the use of Rogers would imply to the general public, a connection to the fabled Rogers family, and would be unfair competition. The preliminary injunction against Cohannet was granted in Wm. A Rogers Ltd Co vs. H.O. Rogers Silver Co, 237 Fed. 887. The final stay seems to have been granted in 1917, and any reference to Cohannet vanished from that point on.

XA - AG34 - excellent condition