Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
October 16, 1983
By LaVonne Waldron
Vigo County Historical Society
Chocolate glass is rare
Today’s treasure from the museum is a lovely example of a unique Indiana product known as Greentown chocolate glass.
This distinctive compote is opaque, light milk chocolate brown on the outside, and creamy inside. It is 5 1/2 inches tall and 5 1/4 inches in diameter.
Chocolate glass originated with Jacob Rosenthal, who came to the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Co. of Greentown in the fall of 1900 as plant manager. He brought with him 35 years of glass making experience.
Within a few weeks of his arrival, he perfected a secret formula and process for this ware which was produced from November of 1900 until the factory was destroyed by fire, after a nine-year existence, on June 13, 1903. The two and one-half year period of manufacture accounts for the rarity of the glass.
The ware was introduced to the public at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York in May of 1901. Demand for chocolate glass was so great that three-fourths of the factory’s production was devoted to the product.
Chocolate glass was made in various patterns. The compote is an example of Cactus, the second major pattern line developed at Greentown for chocolate glass. Cactus was so popular that 33 different items of chocolate glass are known to have been made in the pattern line.
Because of the lovely color and design, as well as its early 20 century Indiana origin, the museum is pleased to have this example of Indiana glass on display in the permanent collection.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.