(Inland Empire) – Redlands Historical Glass Museum Director Frank Herendeen; and Museum Display Chairperson Barbara Soleter (far right) are pictured receiving an 1885 Mary Gregory cake plate. Margaret Smith (center) and her brother Thomas Linden (not pictured) donated a large collection of 79 pieces of Mary Gregory Glass to the Glass Museum.

Each piece in the Mary Gregory Glass  collection was given to Margaret and Thomas’ mother, Margaret I. Linden, as a gift of love from their father, Milton, during their parent’s 63 years of marriage.

Herendeen noted that, “The Mary Gregory glass is one of our finest collections donated to the museum. A special showcase has be designed the hold the entire collection, which will be on permanent display for future generations to enjoy”. The showcase should be ready after the 4th of July.

Mary Gregory glass is easily recognized by its painted and enameled decoration consisting of children in silhouette, typically Victorian. These children are often flying kites, jumping rope, rolling hoops, blowing bubbles or simply playing; usually surrounded by grass, foliage or fern. They are dressed in typical Victorian ‘Sunday Best’ clothes, knickerbockers, sailor suits or crinolines. Figures are usually found on a variety of colored glass. The values are affected by the color of the glass, which list from the least valuable upwards, clear, clear with amethyst, dark green, light green, amber, light blue, turquoise, cobalt blue, ruby and finally cranberry. The first glass known as Mary Gregory was made about 1870. Similar glass is made even today.

There are two myths that have been around for years: 1) Mary Gregory (Miss) was an old lady who painted the children she longed for but never had, probably not true; and 2) Although a Mary Gregory was an American woman who lived from 1856-1908 and from about 1885 she and her sister worked for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, her specialty was painting Gone with the Wind lamps, she never painted what is commonly called Mary Gregory glass.

The Historical Glass Museum is celebrating it 25th Anniversary at the same location 1157 N. Orange Street, Redlands, 4 blocks north of the I-10. The museum is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.

Information 909-793-3333  GlassMuseums.com