Westward Ho Pattern Pressed Glass
A clear pressed glass with frosted relief designs comprising a pioneer’s log cabin with charging buffalo and fleeing deer in scenes of mountain and plain, Westward Ho was first produced by the Gillinder & Sons glassworks of Philadelphia in 1877. All the pattern’s pieces with a clear cover are surmounted by a frosted crouching Indian finial.
Designed by the German mold-maker Jacobus for the Gillinder glassworks, Westward Ho found its inspiration in the western scenes lithographed by Currier & Ives and in the robust nationalism celebrated at the country’s Centinenal Exposition held in 1876 at Philadelphia. Originally named “Pioneer” by the glassworks, (even the room where acid was applied to obtain the frosted decoration was called the “Pioneer Room”), the pattern was also called “Tippecanoe” by some (after the famous battle with the Indians won by William Henry Harrison, who used the log cabin as his political emblem and who’s grandson Benjamin was running for president – and won – in 1889).
Westward Ho was an innovative ware for its time, both in having a design sophistication previously unknown in pressed glass, and for its introduction of several new forms to the pressed glass market, including platters, footed sauce dishes and a jar for small pickles, India relish or marmalade. In all, Westwoard Ho was produced in fifteen different forms and at least twenty-six different sizes. Any examples found in color are reproductions.