Ruba Rombic

Page last updated on Sunday, August 23, 2010.

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Introduction

Ruba Rombic whiskeydecanter

Above, 824 Ruba Rombic Smoky Topaz whiskey decanter (author's collection) – a quintessential example of Ruba Rombic. The complete whiskey set consists of the 824 decanter, six (6) 823 2½” high whiskey (or shot) glasses and the very rare 825 whiskey set tray.

In 1927 Reuben Haley designed a line of glassware called Ruba Rombic for the Consolidated Glass Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. This glassware line was introduced to the glass buying trade in January 1928 at the annual industry show at the Fort Pitt hotel in Pittsburgh. It turned out to be something extraordinaire, the absolute best example of American Art Deco glass ever made and I would argue the best example of Art Deco glass in the world. Collectors of Consolidated glass are competing for examples of this glass with Art Deco/Art Moderne collectors, including overseas collectors (including Japanese collectors). Given the limited supply of this glass and the strong demand, prices are high.

Examples of the Phoenix Ruba Rombic Fish Bowl


Shown above is a very rare example of the Phoenix Ruba Rombic fish bowl. It is about 3/4 of the size of the normal fish bowl and sits on a custom made Alabaster table stand.	Normal sized Phoenix Ruba Rombic fish bowl on a Howell floor stand that differs from the floor stand normally found.	Normal sized Phoenix (7½" h. x 14½" dia.) Ruba Rombic fish bowl on a Howell floor stand (author's collection). This is the floor stand most commonly found.

Consolidated Ruba Rombic Tableware

I have included a table listing all the items in the Ruba Rombic line by Consolidated (Phoenix made one Ruba Rombic item, the Fish bowl, which is shown on the cover of my book).

The Item Numbers are the original numbers from Consolidated catalogues. It should be noted that all Ruba Rombic is rare. It was introduced in January 1928 and the Great Depression soon followed. Also, it was very modern for 1928. Perhaps 2,000 to 3,000 pieces have survived (a couple of the leading Art Deco dealers use 1,500 as the estimated number of pieces – IMHO they are incorrect). That is a very small amount especially when you compare the amount of Ruba Rombic to other art glass lines, such as old Lalique where multiple tens of thousands of pieces have survived. The next time you attend a major antique show count the number of Lalique pieces and the number of Ruba Rombic pieces. A defining event in the market place dynamics for Ruba Rombic was the exhibition and sale called Ruba Rombic at Moderne in the fall of 1992.

A Note about Prices

The prices in the following two tables represent market values for Ruba Rombic items in good condition (no major chips, flakes or cracks). Contrary to what some sellers of Ruba Rombic tell you perfect pieces of Ruba Rombic do exist. Perfect pieces will command a premium price.

Item # Description	Illustration	Value	Comments
800	Amethyst opal	$700 - $1,200 for common colors. $2,500 for white opal. Experimental colors: $3,000 to $5,000.	Scarce. Easiest size of the 3 vases to locate. Known in all the Ruba Rombic colors. Some rare colors have turned up: One (1) vase in black, one (1) vase in a "root beer" amber color, one (1) vase in amethyst opal (illustrated), one (1) vase in crystal with a brown stain that has a "T 4" mark scratched into the base (the "T" may stand for test color), and one (1) vase in a very dark Forest Green (it looks black in natural light). The Forest Green vase has a top that was not "snapped" off after it was removed from the mould. This is a very strong indication that this vase was an experimental or trial color and not made as a production piece for sale.
Small Vase
6½" high
801		$2,000 - $4,000 for common colors. Experimental colors: $5,000 - $7,500	Rare. Most often found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz but Sunshine, Jade, Lilac, Silver (illustrated), French Crystal is known. One example has surfaced in a very dark green (I call this color Forest Green) that looks like it is black unless held to a strong light. Another example has turned up in true black glass. A 9.5" vase in red that was cracked was reported to me several years ago; however, I have never seen that vase. I have also seen an example in yellow wash over crystal with no inner layer of opalescent glass (rare but not very attractive).
Medium Vase
9½" high
802		$25,000 - $50,000	Extremely rare – these are the crème de la crème, basically museum pieces and few are found in private collections. The value range I have provided may seem high; however, until one goes at a quality competitive auction we will not know if it is high or low. 1 known in Jungle Green (another reported to me but not confirmed). Illustration of vase in High Museum, Atlanta, Georgia. 1 known in Jade. Exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum's "Machine Age in America" traveling exhibit. This is a very pretty vase; however, it has significant damage to the top of the vase. 4 known in French Crystal. One in the collection of the Toledo Museum of Art in the Glass Gallery located in the East Wing. 3 known in Smoky Topaz (one has an original label) 1 known in Silver
Tall Vase
16½" high
803		$800 - $1,400	Smoky Topaz & Jungle Green (illustrated): $800 Jade & Silver: $1,200
Cupped bowl
8" diameter
804		Jungle Green Smoky Topaz: $2,500 - $3,500 Jade, Sunshine, Lilac: $3,000 - $4,000 White Opal: $4,000 - $4,500	Oblong bowl, also called a banana bowl it was actually a console bowl to be used with two candlesticks (in the original ads for Ruba Rombic). Jade illustrated (author’s collection). Modernism Gallery in Coral Gables Florida has one in Jungle Green for sale currently (7-3-2010) for $4,500- see http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=145342
Oblong bowl
12" long
805		$500 - $800 pair	Rare. Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz are the most common colors. Opalescent colors (Jade, Sunshine and Lilac) are harder to find. French Crystal, Silver and White Opal (illustrated) are the hardest to find and will command higher prices.
Candlesticks
4¾ w x 2¾" h
806		$125 - $175	This plate and the 8" plate are the most plentiful items in Ruba Rombic. It is also the least expensive piece of Ruba Rombic
Plate, bread & butter
7" diameter
807		$150 - $225
Plate, salad
8" diameter
808		$175 - $300	This is the dinner plate.
Plate, service (dinner)
10" diameter
809		$750 - $1,500	Very rare. This is the largest of the Ruba Rombic plates and is quite impressive. Most commonly (is that an oxymoron?) found in Jungle Green (illustrated) and Smoky Topaz. Also known in Lilac.
Plate,
15"
810		$175 - $250	Finger bowls used to be a common item in a table setting in polite society. When is the last time you saw one in a table setting. This one is in Lilac (lavender cased). The cased colors bring the higher prices. Photo courtesy of Jim Medeiros.
Finger bowl
4¼" w x 2" h
811		$	RARE. This is harder to find than the 803 cupped bowl. Sunshine illustrated.
Flared bowl
9" diameter
812		$2,500 - $3,500 White Opal: $5,000 Apple Green: $6,000	Extremely rare. This item is much harder to find than the whiskey jug. A rare example in an "Apple Green" color exists (illustrated). The top edge of this pitcher is rough -- it was not ground and polished at the factory, which may mean it was an experimental color. It also may mean a company other than Consolidated obtained the mould and produced it – nobody knows for sure.
Water pitcher (jug)
8" h
813		$	Rare. Jade tumbler illustrated. A complete water set would consist of the 812 Jug and six (6) of the 4” 813 tumblers.
Tumbler, 9 oz.
4" h
814		$
Ice tea, 12 oz.
5½" h
815		$225 - 275	Here is a 10oz footed tumbler in Silver. Silver is a gray finished applied to clear glass. Photo courtesy of Jim Medeiros.
Tumbler footed 10 oz.
6" h
816		$450 - $650	Extremely rare. Only a few are known.
Goblet footed 14 oz.
7⅛" h
817		$225 - $275	These are small pieces and they are quite nice. Lilac juice illustrated.
Juice, footed
3¼" high
818		$175 - 275	Here is the sundae or sherbet in Lilac. The cased colors will typically sell for higher prices. Photo courtesy of Jim Medeiros.
Sundae or sherbet
4½" w x 3" h
819		$	Very rare. Jungle Green illustrated.
Bouillon
4⅜" w x 3½" h
820		$1,500 - $2,000	Extremely rare. Perhaps a half dozen have surfaced. Silver illustrated.
Comport
7" diameter
821		$175 - 250	Creamer, picture in Lilac. Picture courtesy of Jim Medeiros.
Creamer
3" h x 4½" w
822		$175 - 250	Sugar in the French Crystal finish.
Sugar
2½" h x 6½" w
823		$125 - $300	Rare. Lilac illustrated. I need three of these in White Opal to complete my whiskey set.
Whiskey glass
2½"h x 2"w
824		$	Rare. Most are found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz. Examples are known in Sunshine, Lilac, Jade, Silver, French Crystal and White Opal; however, all of these are very rare.
Liquor bottle
8¾" h x 7" w x 3" d
825		$1,200 - $2,500	Extremely rare. The hardest piece of the whiskey set to locate. I need one in Sunshine if anyone finds one. Lilac illustrated.
Whiskey set tray
12" w x 11" d
Complete whiskey set		Smoky Topaz: $6,000 Jungle Green: $6,000	Extremely rare. Eight (8) piece set: Whiskey decanter, whiskey set tray and six (6) whiskey glasses.
826		$1,400 - $2,000	Scarce. Typically found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz (illustrated) but all the other Ruba Rombic colors are known in this piece.
Toilet (cologne) bottle
7¾" h
827		$1,500 - $4,000	Rare. Very desirable item. Known in all the Ruba Rombic colors, but French Crystal, Silver and White Opal (illustrated) are the rarest colors. A French Crystal perfume with an original Ruba Rombic paper label sold at the Phoenix & Consolidated Glass Collectors Club members’ only auction for $3,000- on July 23, 2010.
Perfume
5" h
828		$1,200 - $1,500	Extremely rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One box in milk glass exists. Lilac illustrated.
Cigarette box
4½" l x 3¾" d x 2½" h
829		$600 - $900	Very rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One ashtray in black has been reported to me but not confirmed. White opal illustrated.
Ashtray
4½" w x 4½" d x 2" h
830		$1,500 - $3,000	Extremely rare. Be careful --- do not confuse the powder jar made by Kopp (it comes in white and green and the Kopp powder boxes are frosted) with the real item. Also, the top of the Kopp powder box base is round while the top of the Ruba Rombic box base is quite angular. The Kopp powder jar is probably worth $75- or so while the Ruba Rombic powder jar is worth ten times that. I have seen dealers trying to sell Kopp powder boxes as Ruba Rombic even after they have been advised they are Kopp so I advise caution (the vast majority of dealers are honest but a few are not).
Powder box
5½" dia. X 3¾" h.
831		$225 - $300	Rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
Almond dish
4" x 4" x 2" h
832		Jungle Green Smoky Topaz: $325 Sunshine: $880	Rare, but the most easily found of the four serving pieces. The bon-bon is found in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz. A single rare example exists in Sunshine but it is not a true Sunshine because it lacks the opalescence found in other Sunshine pieces. I consider it rare but not very pretty. Also, a single example exists in French Crystal.
Bon Bon dish
8" x 6¼" x app. 2" h
833		$600	Very rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
Relish
10" long x 6" deep x 1¼" high
834		$800 - $1,200	Extremely rare. Only a handful have surfaced. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
Celery dish
12¼" long x 7" deep x 1¾" high

Consolidated Ruba Rombic Lighting Glass

Ruba Rombic lighting glass is very hard to find, much harder than the tableware pieces listed in the above table. Why is that? Well, I found it advertised as "Futuristic Ruba Rombic" in the November 15, 1929 catalog (note that October 29, 1929 was Black Friday when the New York Stock Exchange crashed). The catalog stated items were available in French Crystal, Rose, Jade and Honey finishes. Lighting glass was introduced much later than the tableware, hence that is the reason it is so hard to find.

Insider’s Tip: Lighting Glass Finishes

The finishes that Consolidated used on lighting glass were different than used on their tableware line. Typically the outside surface of lighting glass has a dull or mat finish while the inside has a glossy finish. If you were not aware of this you might pass up an example of rare Ruba Rombic lighting glass because you thought there was something wrong with the finish.

2842		$1,800-	Extremely rare. About a dozen examples have surfaced. Most are in the Sunshine (yellow cased) finish. Here is a Lilac example (photo courtesy of Jim Medeiros). Some are in milk glass and one has turned up in Jade (green).
Hanging light, small
10" wide, 7½" high, 4" fitter
2842 3/4	No examples reported.		Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2842 with drilled bottom hole.
Ceiling bowl
10" wide, 5" high
2850		$2,500-	Extremely rare, rarer than the small size. To date about 1/2 dozen examples have surfaced. Large impressive piece of glass. Almost too large for a normal home, hence my feeling this size was designed for commercial installations. This example is in French Crystal (photo courtesy of Jim Medeiros).
Hanging light, large
14" wide, 10" high, 6" fitter
2850 3/4	No examples reported.		Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2850 with drilled bottom hole.
Ceiling bowl
14" wide, 6" high
2846		$3,000-$4,000 (pair) with back plates.	Extremely rare. Mounts on a metal back plate. Spectacular pieces of Art Deco glass but almost impossible to find. Sunshine is the most common color. These are large pieces of glass, almost too large for a home so I suspect these were for commercial use, for example in theaters.
Wall sconce, large
8½" wide, 11½" high
2853		$2,000-$3,000 (pair) with back plates.	Extremely rare. Mounts on a simple metal back plate. Sunshine is the most common color, but other colors are known.
Wall sconce, small
8" wide, 9" high
2852			Extremely rare. This glass lighting component was available 4 ways from the factory: With 2 1/4" collar With 1 5/8" sleeve With 1 1/2" bottom hole With 3/8" bottom hole. Pairs of table lamps are known and these are quite nice. Glass portion of floor lamp illustrated (with option 4, above, in the glass portion).
Table and floor lamp glass
4¼" wide, 8" high

Additional Information on Ruba Rombic

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONSOLIDATED RUBA ROMBIC, KOPP AND MUNCIE

by Barbara Norman, The Modern, Fall 1995 Vol. 9 No. 2

Consolidated Glass - Ruba Rombic, Martele and The Valuable Lalique Look-Alike, Daryle Lambert on Antiques, Monday, March 24, 2008

RUBA ROMBIC IS CRAZY-LOOKING BUT VALUABLE GLASSWARE, By Rosemary McKittrick, LiveAuction Talk

Consolidated Glass – The Deco Years (1925-1931), by Audra Blevins, WorthPoint, 09/15/08.

Twisted Beauty, by Doris Athineos, produced by Leigh Keno and Leslie Keno, Traditional Home, Holiday 2008, pps. 66-69

Reuben Haley: 20th Century Glass Master, by Thomas Jiamachello, Phoenix & Consolidated Glass Collectors Club Newsletter.

Antiques Roadshow looks at Art Deco glassware at Denver's Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art.