Glass Basket
I had mourning doves nesting in a hanging near sliding glass door. Eggs hatched, 7/3/08 on 7/6/08 both adult?
Returned from vacation 6/23/07 (gone for 10 days)Had Mourning dove nesting in hanging plant 6/23/08. Two chicks hatched 7/3/08. Photograph two baby chicks 7/4/08, on 7/6/08 both adults and chicks were gone. Hanging basket is outside of sliding glass door from living room. Does anyone know if the adults can move the chicks to another area?
Something got the chicks and the adults moved on.
Duncan-Miller Glass Swans
The History
In 1865, George Duncan bought the glass factory of Ripley and Company in Pittsburgh, where he had been employed by D. C. Ripley. He formed a partnership with his sons under the name George Duncan and Sons. Augustus Heisey, his son-in-law, was a partner also. Sand was brought in on the Monongahela River, only two blocks away.
The plant in Pittsburgh was destroyed by fire in 1892 at which time August Heisey broke away and started his own glass company in Newark, Ohio. Heisey glass is also a highly valued collectible. See the article on Heisey glass on this site. Meanwhile, the Duncan sons (their father, George, had died in 1877) decided to build their new glass factory in Washington, Pennsylvania. The justification for the choice was the availability of cheap natural gas to run the furnaces and railroads for bringing in the sand. John Ernest Miller had been hired in 1874, and it's his designs that have become most valuable to collectors. When the new plant opened, the company was named the Duncan-Miller company and Miller became a stockholder along with the members of the family.
Reasons for Collecting
Why is Duncan-Miller glass so desired and so collectible? Actually, the method of making the glass was not very different from the other glass makers in that part of the country. However, the art is outstanding-the designs and the beautiful colors distinguish Duncan-Miller pieces from all others. At least ten persons handled each piece. Some required even more.
The factory closed in 1955 when the competition from machine-made glass and assembly-line production made cheap glass so much more affordable. The Duncans refused to compete in this new market because it required a departure from the artistry and care they had taken such pride in. They preferred to go out of business. The plant was sold in 1956 but before the new owners could get their business up and running, the building burned.
What to Collect
While there are many Duncan-Miller designs that are prized by collectors such as the lovely patterned glass baskets, what most people think of when they think of Duncan is the swan. Other companies were making swans, but the Duncan version stands out. The swans were made in various patterns, but the gracefully curved neck distinguishes these from all other glass swans. Not only do they come in various patterns, they can be found in a wide range of sizes and colors. There is a beautiful red one that was made in a very large centerpiece size. On the other hand, a valuable small one is in Vaseline glass. Less valuable identical ones to the Vaseline-glass one can be found in pink, blue, and clear.
Identifying Duncan-Miller Pieces
It's important to have an expert confirm that a piece you are considering purchasing (such as on eBay) is, in fact, Duncan-Miller because many sellers either intentionally or because of lack of expertise sell as Duncan-Miller swans that were made by other companies. In fact, I made a valuable acquisition of a swan the seller called Duncan-Mailler made possibly by an artist in Murano in this way before I realized that I needed help identifying the Duncan-Miller pieces. However, it's also possible to spend quite a bit of money and get one that is inferior.
There is a Duncan-Miller museum in Washington, Pennsylvania, where you can see examples of this very collectible glassware.
 Glass & Ceramic Baskets Identification and Value Guide: Identification and Value Guide List Price: Sale Price: $18.29 See Reviews For This Product DescriptionAlmost 600 photographs of both old (pre-1950s) and new (1960s-present) baskets are featured, as well as a good selection of old magazine ads and import catalogs. Cambridge, Heisey, Fenton, Duncan, Imperial, Westmoreland, plus a selection of the more modern imported glass baskets that sell so briskly now are represented. Roseville is the largest of the potteries represented in the book, and there are too many others to list. Each basket is pictured and accompanied by a brief description, market value, and country of manufacture. AUTHORBIO: Carole White is the author of a four-volume series on Made in Japan Ceramics. She also wrote Collector's Guide to Lunchboxes and Glass & Ceramic Baskets. REVIEW: Collectors will find a variety of baskets in every price range included in this book. Literally hundreds of baskets are shown in full color - glass, ceramic, old, new, large, and small, American-made and foreign-made. Description, height, and collector values are given for each item shown.  |
 Flowering Tea Gift Set with Glass Tea Mug Sale Price: $19.95  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThis complete gift set comes with 4 flowering tea buds: awakening spirit, golden prosperity, lily basket and rising sun and a unique glass tea brewing mug. Brew mug includes all natural glass infuser basket for brewing loose leaf teas and glass lid that doubles as a holder for the infuser basket when your tea is brewed and ready to drink. All you need is hot water! Features
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 Teas Etc 12-Ounce Glass Brew Mug with Glass Brew Basket and Lid Sale Price: $14.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionExperience the visual beauty of the agony of the leaf while you enjoy the taste purity of brewing in all natural 3-piece hand-blown glass without the influences of metal. The large brew basket delivers the full flavor of teas, herbals and rooibos. The ease of brewing in the perfectly sized 1-1/2 cup (12-ounces) mug makes this a no-brainer. Place 1 1/2 teaspoons of tea leaves in the infuser basket - pour in hot water - brew - remove the glass brew basket and enjoy. The glass lid doubles as a coaster for the brew basket. Dishwasher and Microwave Safe. Complete brewing and care instructions included. Features
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 Fenton Basket Patterns: Acanthus to Hummingbird (Schiffer Book for Collectors) List Price: Sale Price: $22.76 You save: $7.19 (24%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionSince the 1930s and up to the present, the Fenton Art Glass Company, of Williamstown, West Virginia, has produced beautiful glass baskets in a huge variety of styles, colors, and patterns. In these two new volumes, over 880 known varieties of Fenton baskets are each carefully described, with their individual ware numbers, color, size, decoration, date, and current value, and are individually shown in beautiful color photos. The patterns are presented alphabetically. This volume has the patterns from Acanthus to Hummingbird. A companion volume has the patterns Innovation to Wisteria and the numbered patterns. Information on the talented glass workers who made the baskets, handles, and pattern decorations are identified. Special markings are described, listed, and dated for easy identification. With these complete references now available, the identification of Fenton glass baskets is possible for the first time and collecting them will be a gratifying pleasure. These two books are published to coincide with the hundredth anniversary celebration of the Fenton Art Glass company in 2005. |
 Signed Limited Edition FENTON Red Lion Carnival Basket Sale Price: $110.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThis is a Signed piece by Tom Fenton 1994. It is a Limited Edition #297. It is in MINT Condition!It is done in the Red Carnival glass with the leaf pattern on outside with the lions on the inside. It has a spiral handle with the ruffled edge with a 3 leg base.It measures approximately 8 3/4" inches tall. It measures approximately 7 1/4" inches wide. Features
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 Numi Tea Bamboo Flowering Tea Gift Set List Price: Sale Price: $21.00 You save: $21.64 (51%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks See Reviews For This Product DescriptionPackaged in an exotic hand-made dark mahogany bamboo case, this Flowering Gift Set holds a bin of Numi's Bouquet Flowering Tea that is filled with bouquets of tea leaves and Numi's Teahouse glass teapot (420 ml.) through which to observe the blooming tea petals. Amazon.com has certified this product's packaging is Frustration-Free. A Frustration-Free Package is easy-to-open and comes without excess packaging materials such as hard plastic "clamshell" casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. It is exactly the same as a traditionally packaged product--we've just streamlined the packaging to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging during shipping. Products with Frustration-Free Packaging can frequently be shipped in their own boxes, without the need for an additional shipping box. Features
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 Marcasite Sterling Silver and Glass Pearl Flower Basket Brooch Pin List Price: Sale Price: $28.99 You save: $11.00 (28%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionHere is a beautiful marcasite sterling silver and glass pearl flower basket brooch pin. This intricately designed marcasite silver basket is filled with glass pearls and sparkling crystals - a great accent to any fashion! A perfect item for gift giving or for yourself, you will love it! This brooch pin comes to you in a foil gift box though may be a different box color than the one shown. |
 Fenton Basket Patterns: Innovation to Wisteria & Numbers (Schiffer Book for Collectors) Sale Price: $29.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionSince the 1930s and up to the present, the Fenton Art Glass Company, of Williamstown, West Virginia, has produced beautiful glass baskets in a huge variety of styles, colors, and patterns. In these two new volumes, over 880 known varieties of Fenton baskets are each carefully described, with their individual ware numbers, color, size, decoration, date, and current value, and are individually shown in beautiful color photos. The patterns are presented alphabetically. This volume has the patterns from Innovation to Wisteria and the numbered patterns. Information on the talented glass workers who made the baskets, handles, and pattern decorations are identified. Special markings are described, listed, and dated for easy identification. With these complete references now available, the identification of Fenton glass baskets is possible for the first time and collecting them will be a gratifying pleasure. |
 My Element Style Decorative Glass Disinfecting Jar- Stainless Steel Lid & Implement Basket- Split Personality- 10" Sale Price: $36.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA popular design featuring Turquoise and Chocolate Brown. This jar won't split hairs at your salon. This fun floral motif is sure to be a stand out at your station. Stop feeling blue about your old jar and order one today! Features
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