Ruba Rombic

This page last updated on January 7, 1999.
Ruba Rombic whiskeydecanter

Above, Ruba Rombic Smoky Topaz whiskey decanter (author's collection).

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.

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). Shown below 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:
Phoenix Ruba Rombic Fish bowl

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. 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. In the future I intend to add more information to this table that will help to further document relative scarcity and provide information about which pieces are known in which colors.

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.
6.5" vase in amethyst opal

Item Description Comments

800 6.5" high vase Easiest size of the 3 vases to locate. Known in all the Ruba Rombic colors. Two rare colors have turned up: 1 vase in black, 1 vase in a "root beer" amber color, 1 vase in amethyst opal, and 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).

801 9.5" high vase Rare. Most often found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz but Sunshine, Jade, Lilac, Silver, French Crystal are 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).

802 16.5" high vase Extremely rare:

1 known in Jungle Green (another reported to me but not confirmed)

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

3 known in Smoky Topaz (one has an original label)

803 Cupped bowl, 8" diameter

804 Oblong bowl, 12" long Also called a banana bowl it was actually a console bowl to be used with two candlesticks (in the original ads for Ruba Rombic).

805 Candlesticks

806 Plate, 7" This plate and the 8" plate are the most plentiful items in Ruba Rombic. It is also the least expensive piece of Ruba Rombic and will typically retail from $125 to $175 depending on color.

807 Plate, 8"

808 Plate, 10" This is the dinner plate.

809 Plate, 15" RARE.

810 Finger bowl

811 Bowl, 9" diameter

812 Water pitcher (jug) Extremely rare. This item is much harder to find than the whiskey jug. A rare example in an "apple green" color exists. 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.

813 Tumbler, 9 oz.

814 Ice tea, 12 oz.

815 Tumbler, footed, 10 oz.

816 Goblet, footed, 14 oz. Extremely rare. Only a few are known.

817 Juice, footed These are small pieces and they are quite nice.

818 Sundae/sherbet

819 Bouillon

820 Comport, 7" diameter Extremely rare. Perhaps a half dozen have surfaced.

821 Creamer

822 Sugar

823 Whiskey glass These typically retail for $125 and up depending on color. I need six of these in White Opal to complete my whiskey set.

824 Liquor bottle 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. By the way, I need one in Silver if anyone finds one.

825 Whiskey set tray Extremely rare. The hardest piece of the whiskey set to locate. I need one in Sunshine if anyone finds one.

826 Toilet (cologne) bottle Scarce. Typically found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz but all the other Ruba Rombic colors are known in this piece.

827 Perfume Rare. Very desirable item.

828 Cigarette box Extremely rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One box in milk glass exists.

829 Ash tray Very rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One ash tray in black has been reported to me but not confirmed.

830 Powder Box Extremely rare. Be careful --- do not confuse the power 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).

831 Almond dish Rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.

832 Bon Bon dish Rare. Found in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz. One rare example exists in Sunshine but it is not a true Sunshine because it lacks the opalescence found in Sunshine pieces.

833 Relish dish Very rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.

834 Celery dish Extremely rare. Only a handful have surfaced. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.

Lighting
Glass
Advertised as "Futuristic Ruba Rombic" in 11-15-29 catalog. Available in French Crystal, Rose, Jade and Honey finishes.

2842 Hanging light, small
10" wide, 7.5" high,
4" fitter
Extremely rare. About a dozen examples have surfaced.

2842 3/4 Ceiling bowl
10" wide, 5" high
Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2842 with drilled bottom hole.

2850 Hanging light, large
14" wide, 10" high,
6" fitter
Extremely rare, rarer than the small size. To date about 1/2 dozen examples have surfaced.

2850 3/4 Ceiling bowl
14" wide, 6" high
Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2850 with drilled bottom hole.

2846 Wall sconce, large
8.5" wide, 11.5" high
Extremely rare. Mounts on a metal back plate. Spectacular pieces of Art Deco glass but almost impossible to find.

2853 Wall sconce, small
8" wide, 9" high
Extremely rare. Mounts on a metal back plate.

2852 Table light
4.25" wide, 8" high
Extremely rare. This light was available 4 ways:

2 1/4" collar

1 5/8" sleeve

1 1/2" bottom hole

3/8" bottom hole Pairs of table lamps are known and these are quite nice.

Click here to send me an email message

Item	Description	Comments
800	6.5" high vase	Easiest size of the 3 vases to locate. Known in all the Ruba Rombic colors. Two rare colors have turned up: 1 vase in black, 1 vase in a "root beer" amber color, 1 vase in amethyst opal, and 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).
801	9.5" high vase	Rare. Most often found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz but Sunshine, Jade, Lilac, Silver, French Crystal are 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).
802	16.5" high vase	Extremely rare: 1 known in Jungle Green (another reported to me but not confirmed) 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 3 known in Smoky Topaz (one has an original label)
803	Cupped bowl, 8" diameter
804	Oblong bowl, 12" long	Also called a banana bowl it was actually a console bowl to be used with two candlesticks (in the original ads for Ruba Rombic).
805	Candlesticks
806	Plate, 7"	This plate and the 8" plate are the most plentiful items in Ruba Rombic. It is also the least expensive piece of Ruba Rombic and will typically retail from $125 to $175 depending on color.
807	Plate, 8"
808	Plate, 10"	This is the dinner plate.
809	Plate, 15"	RARE.
810	Finger bowl
811	Bowl, 9" diameter
812	Water pitcher (jug)	Extremely rare. This item is much harder to find than the whiskey jug. A rare example in an "apple green" color exists. 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.
813	Tumbler, 9 oz.
814	Ice tea, 12 oz.
815	Tumbler, footed, 10 oz.
816	Goblet, footed, 14 oz.	Extremely rare. Only a few are known.
817	Juice, footed	These are small pieces and they are quite nice.
818	Sundae/sherbet
819	Bouillon
820	Comport, 7" diameter	Extremely rare. Perhaps a half dozen have surfaced.
821	Creamer
822	Sugar
823	Whiskey glass	These typically retail for $125 and up depending on color. I need six of these in White Opal to complete my whiskey set.
824	Liquor bottle	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. By the way, I need one in Silver if anyone finds one.
825	Whiskey set tray	Extremely rare. The hardest piece of the whiskey set to locate. I need one in Sunshine if anyone finds one.
826	Toilet (cologne) bottle	Scarce. Typically found in Jungle Green or Smoky Topaz but all the other Ruba Rombic colors are known in this piece.
827	Perfume	Rare. Very desirable item.
828	Cigarette box	Extremely rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One box in milk glass exists.
829	Ash tray	Very rare. Can be found in all the normal colors. One ash tray in black has been reported to me but not confirmed.
830	Powder Box	Extremely rare. Be careful --- do not confuse the power 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).
831	Almond dish	Rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
832	Bon Bon dish	Rare. Found in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz. One rare example exists in Sunshine but it is not a true Sunshine because it lacks the opalescence found in Sunshine pieces.
833	Relish dish	Very rare. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
834	Celery dish	Extremely rare. Only a handful have surfaced. Only known in Jungle Green and Smoky Topaz.
Lighting Glass	Advertised as "Futuristic Ruba Rombic" in 11-15-29 catalog.	Available in French Crystal, Rose, Jade and Honey finishes.
2842	Hanging light, small 10" wide, 7.5" high, 4" fitter	Extremely rare. About a dozen examples have surfaced.
2842 3/4	Ceiling bowl 10" wide, 5" high	Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2842 with drilled bottom hole.
2850	Hanging light, large 14" wide, 10" high, 6" fitter	Extremely rare, rarer than the small size. To date about 1/2 dozen examples have surfaced.
2850 3/4	Ceiling bowl 14" wide, 6" high	Extremely rare. Bottom portion of 2850 with drilled bottom hole.
2846	Wall sconce, large 8.5" wide, 11.5" high	Extremely rare. Mounts on a metal back plate. Spectacular pieces of Art Deco glass but almost impossible to find.
2853	Wall sconce, small 8" wide, 9" high	Extremely rare. Mounts on a metal back plate.
2852	Table light 4.25" wide, 8" high	Extremely rare. This light was available 4 ways: 2 1/4" collar 1 5/8" sleeve 1 1/2" bottom hole 3/8" bottom hole Pairs of table lamps are known and these are quite nice.

Ruba Rombic

Top of Page