Vintage MCM LE Smith Golden Amber 3-Toe Smoothie Swung Glass Vase, 12.5"

Add a touch of retro elegance to your space with this vintage L.E. Smith 12" swung glass vase in a radiant amber. Featuring its signature elongated, organic shape, and vibrant golden hue, this mid-century treasure is both a functional vase and a stunning decorative piece. Perfect for collectors or anyone looking to add a warm, vintage charm to their home décor, this vase embodies the timeless craftsmanship L.E. Smith is known for. Ideal for showcasing flowers or as a standalone statement piece.

Good vintage condition. This vase has no chips and only minor wear scratches as expected for its age. It does have a crack or manufacturing defect about 1" in length on its side - see photo. This vase was used and has a bit of residue inside the base that I was unable to clean out with a mild cleaner. It may be possible to remove if you wish to use something stronger. The price of this vase is discounted due to these conditions.

DETAILS: • Dimensions: Height: 12.5", Diameter: 4", Weight: 1lb 6oz • Manufacturer: LE Smith Glass Company • Design: Swung Vase • Pattern: Smoothie • Markings: None • Place of Origin: Greensburg PA • Date of Manufacture: c1950-1970s • Materials: Pressed Glass • Color(s): Amber Gold • Status: Discontinued

HISTORY: The distinctive design of the swung vase, most popular in the 1960s through the early 1980s, came from a unique glass-blowing technique. The often vibrantly colored, uniquely fashioned glassware has an irregularly shaped mouth, freeform shape, and a cool Mid-Century Modern vibe, resulting from how it is “swung” when removed from heat. The molten glass is pressed into a mold and allowed to cool slightly. While the glass is still hot but has conformed to the shape of the mold, the glassblower picks the vase up by the neck or the bottom and swings it. During this process, the glass stretches and twists. After the vase has been swung, the glassblower cuts off the tail and shapes the mouth of the vase or leaves it as is. The outcome is a vase featuring barely-there ruffles to dramatically sloped mouths. Because of the random results of this process, no two pieces are identical to each other.

Though the L.E. Smith Glass Company was founded in 1907 by "Lew" Smith in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, the company is better known for the glassware it produced from 1910 to 1921 at its factory in nearby Mount Pleasant. There, L.E. Smith manufactured mustard jars (along with the mustard that filled them), fruit jars, jelly jars, and headlights for Henry Ford's Model T, among many other products.

By 1920, Smith, whose namesake founder had left the company in 1911, had purchased a new factory in Greensburg, PA. It was here that the company made a range of milk glass pieces, from figural animals to vases and planters. L.E. Smith was also known for its small novelty glass items, from tiny pianos and pistols to diminutive telephones, many of which were sold as containers for candy. Other mainstays of the Smith catalog during these years were lamps, both oil and electric, whose pressed-glass shades and bodies were manufactured in a range of colors. Smith even made electric lamps in the shapes of sailboats, melding novelty with utility.

In 1971 Smith finally jumped on the carnival-glass bandwagon that had begun in 1907 by Fenton. The first pieces of L.E. Smith carnival glass were actually commemorative plates bearing the profiles of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.

In January 2005, William A. Kelman, a Pittsburg businessman, bought the assets of Smith Glass including equipment, inventory, machinery and receivables. He formed a new company, Port Augustus Glass Co. LLC, which was named after a town in his native Scotland. The intention was to preserve nearly a century of glassmaking history at one of the last handmade glass factories in the USA, but ultimately it was not to be, and the business closed.

ADDITIONAL SHIPPING INFORMATION: • Items are shipped by USPS Ground Advantage with standard $100 insurance unless otherwise agreed upon. • Multiple purchases will have a combined, lower shipping rate. • Because I primarily use recycled materials to securely package your valuable items, accurately calculating shipping costs in advance is challenging. While I may initially estimate high, any shipping cost overages of $1 or more will be promptly reimbursed. • If an item is broken during the shipping process, the buyer is responsible for submitting a claim to the USPS. Please ensure you keep the label/receipt and all original packaging to demonstrate proof. Refer to the USPS website or your local post office to obtain a claim form.

IMPORTANT DDV SHOP NOTE: • All antique/vintage items in my shop are sold "as-is/as-found" and priced accordingly for their condition. I only complete a light cleaning on items allowing new owners to determine the level of aging and character they wish to preserve. This includes all metal patinas and discolorations. • All antique/vintage items are by definition “used” and usually show signs of age and/or use. Buying vintage items online assumes some risk. Be sure to view all photos as they are part of the description and condition. I do my best to provide descriptions and/or photos of any wear, damage, or manufacturing flaws I find to help you make your purchase decision. I do not accept returns unless the buyer can prove that the items weren't accurately described or photographed. • DISCLAIMER: While I personally research each item I sell and do my best to provide accurate information in my listings, I am a hobbyist vintage collector but not an expert. If I have provided incorrect information or missed essential information, please contact me before you buy.

Darling Della Vintage helps vintage lovers and collectors fill their spaces with joy by offering locally sourced, high-quality vintage items at fair prices.

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