Swept Away by Libbey

I have come across this pattern of Libby glass a few times and could never find the pattern name.   I identified the decoration as dandelion seeds floating through the air.  So I searched dandelion, seed, wisp, ruderal, all to no avail.  Now with the help of the catalogs on libbeyhistory.com I finally know!

Thy name is Windblown

From 1962 catalog - source libbeyhistory.com

Roly Poly - the mid centry icon

After finishing the first seven episodes of season 7, I decided to go back and re-watch Mad Men from the beginning.  I have to say going from 1969 back to 1960 made me realize how things really did change in the 1960s.  The world of the first season seems so very formal, ladies are ladies, gentlemen are gentlemen.  And the housewares are glorious.

In my opinion, the glassware that is the epitome of Mad Men is the roly poly glass.  And it makes it's first appearance in the very first episode (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes).  Our first glimpse... on the table top bar in Don Draper's corner office.  And then Sal comes in and pours himself a drink.  Oh, Sal, how I have missed you.

When looking for these glasses online you often see them attributed to Dorothy Thorpe, who often did not sign her pieces.  Large manufacturers of glassware, such as Javits Crystal and Libbey, produced mid-century silver/platinum rimmed roly poly glasses on a much larger scale. Be very wary of purchasing silver rimmed glasses that are attributed to her directly versus being described as in the style of Dorothy Thorpe. 

Mad Men - I watch for the housewares

I have to admit my most exciting moments in watching Mad Men are when I recognize a familiar face, namely one of my favorite vintage housewares.  My husband thinks I am absolute nut when I blurt "Oh my God!!! Megan is drinking wine from a Libbey Accent wine glass! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!"

Now my inner Libbey nerd is thinking "Wow. Megan has a secret time machine!"  The wine glass she drinks from one her California deck in 1969 appears to be a tawny Libbey Accent wine glass, but as far as I can tell Accent was not introduced until  April 1970.  Or maybe she just has inside connections.  Maybe Don had the Libbey account and they never mention it on the show...

Source - libbeyhistory.com

Still, I was very excited to see one of my favorite Libbey patterns on the show.  And I am sure the set designers will continue to rock my world when season 7 resumes.  Until then I think I will look back at each episode.  More to come.