Dorothy Thorpe glassware was a chic staple of every mid-century modern wet bar, particularly her festive Roly Poly silver-banded tumblers. Although not as widely known as such contemporaries as Eva Zeisel and Edith Heath, Thorpe was one of a group of creative and entrepreneurial women whose designs captured the imagination of the postwar homeowner with her modern and cheery works.
Thorpe was born in Salt Lake City in 1901 and settled in Los Angeles as a young woman. She began creating her signature glassware using the trade name Dorothy Thorpe Originals in the 1930s. Thorpe was a designer, not a glassblower. To create her shimmering wares, she purchased glass blanks from a variety of manufacturers and subjected them to various techniques, including sandblasting, etching and silver overlay.
Initially Art Deco in style, the pieces were signed with a large T and smaller D. Thorpe also worked in ceramics and, in the 1940s, with Lucite, producing a line of household items, such as magazine racks, sculptural lamps, candlesticks and umbrella stands.
After World War II, Thorpe was inspired by a new interest in the flowers and animals of the South Pacific and began incorporating tropical floral motifs into her work. She traveled to Hawaii and studied local irises, roses, azaleas, narcissus and eucalyptus. The decorative patterns based on these studies were created primarily by sandblasting, which makes a glass surface appear frosted.
From the 1930s through the ’50s, Thorpe’s designs won her many fans among the members of café society, including Princess Grace of Monaco and the Shah of Iran. They were also widely imitated. Vintage tumblers that bear a silver stripe around the rim but lack the “DT” signature on the bottom are not Thorpe originals.
In the 1950s, Thorpe created the glassware line Atomic Splash, which featured the energetic geometric patterns that were so popular at the time. Atomic Splash patterned drinking glasses and serving dishes bore a silver overlay that evoked an explosion.
Thorpe also designed a line of ceramic tableware decorated with a wreath of spring flowers in collaboration with Crown Lynn Pottery, in New Zealand, and, in the mid-’60s, created coffee sets for the Santa Barbara and Monterey companies. Among her own ceramics products were lines glazed in the eye-catching shades of Orange Persimmon and Blue Periwinkle.
Find vintage Dorothy Thorpe glasses and tableware for sale on 1stDibs.
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Tray Antiqued Silver on Crystal
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Tray has been Hand Decorated with Antiqued Silver on Crystal Unsigned
Glass
"Dorothy Thorpe Vintage Glass Tray, Antiqued Gold on Crystal, 1960s"
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe tray Antiqued Gold on Crystal, in good condition, circa 1960. ***a Pair available to Purchase***
Silver
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Atomic Splash Tray
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Atomic Splash Tray, Hand Decorated Antiqued Silver on Crystal, Unsigned
Glass
"Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Etched Glass Platter, Signed, Circa: 1940s, 11" "
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Carved and Etched Glass Platter, Tray Signed Top Corner of the Tray by Dorothy Thorpe
Glass
"Vintage Mirrored Tray with Etched Glass and Bronze Corners, 1940s"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mirrored Tray with Raised Sides and Etched Glass Sides with Bronze Corner Pieces that Capped with Mother of Pearls,
Bronze
"Vintage Los Castillo Handcrafted Footed Dish Bowl, Mixed Metal, 1950s Design"
By Los Castillo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Handcrafted Geometric Pattern Surface Mixed Metal, Copper, Brass, Bronze and Silver Plated three Brass Ball Feet Dish Bowl by Los Castillo Metal, Made in Mexico Mark with Sta...
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper
Vintage Italian Studio Metal Art Brass Serving Tray Mid Century Modern Signed
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This vintage Italian mid-century modern serving tray, crafted from etched and partially silverplated brass, showcases intricate designs featuring birds perched on branches adorned wi...
Metal, Silver Plate, Brass
Mid-Century Georges Briard Gilt Glass Appetizer Dish 1960
By Georges Briard
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage 1960's Mid Century Modern Georges Briard gold leaf glass appetizer platter. Signed, vintage Georges Briard serving piece dish. Persian Garden design which features various flowers and leaves. This tray is a must-have for any collector or fan of mid-century modern design. The square shaped canape hors d'oeuvre plate with subtle flared flanged edges was made in the 1960's . Beautiful signed Georges Briard "The Persian Garden" pattern snack platter is perfect for appetizers for any occasion. The dish has a metallic 22K gold pattern on a square bent glass tray with a speckle textured exterior. Square Mid Century Modern transparent clear glass featuring beautiful floral pattern design details in a gorgeous metallic gold leaf finish. Square small glass serving dish, retro 1960s party dinnerware appetizers in gold leaf gilt pattern for canape hors d'oeuvre. It is a very special and unique plate to add to your serveware, barware collection. Square-shaped gilt serving dishes decorated with gold gilt decoration throughout. Marked, "Georges Briard," in corner. Georges Briard never goes out of style, still modern today after all these decades. This is from the 1960s. Dimensions: Height: 1.5 in Width: 9.75 in Depth: 9.75 in. Condition: Good Georges Briard Vintage Barware: Timeless Elegance for Discerning Collectors. Indulge in the charm of luxury vintage Bar ware with these exquisite Georges Briard vintage dishes. Imbued with the unmistakable style and craftsmanship of the mid-century era, these dishes are a testament to the era's design sensibilities and attention to detail. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect, from the intricate patterns and vibrant colors to the delicate gold accents that add a touch of opulence. These dishes are the epitome of vintage sophistication, guaranteed to elevate any occasion or home decor. Georges Briard, a renowned designer of the mid-20th century, was celebrated for his innovative approach to glassware design. These vintage snack trays...
Art Glass
Mexican Mixed Metal Tray by Los Castillo
By Los Castillo
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Mexican Mixed Metal Tray by Los Castillo. The mix of metals is silver, copper, bronze, aluminum.
Silver, Brass, Copper
Mid-Century Modern Large Vintage Austrian Brass Tray or Dish by Atelier Jesch
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large mid-century modern vintage Hollywood Regency round bowl, dish or tray made by Atelier Jesch in Austria, circa 1970/1980s. Made of solid cast polished brass with a round, centra...
Brass
Mid Century Lorin Marsh Serving Tray Glass Inset Brass Nickel karl Springer
By Karl Springer, Lorin Marsh
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Mid Century Modern Lorin Marsh Serving Tray With Glass Inset And Brass And Polished Nickel Hardware In The Manner & Style Of karl Springer.
Brass, Nickel
Large Oval Brass Tray from the 1970s
Located in IT
Large oval brass tray, produced in Milan, Italy, during the 1970s, as indicated by the logo stamped in the center. The sides of the tray are formed by two tubular bands joined by fou...
Brass
