Sowerby’s Ellison Glass Works introduced Service 2414 in Pattern Book 22 in 1925 [1]. The service was renamed to the “Derby” Suite around 1930 [2], and this name continued to be used until 1940. The “Derby” design was no longer included in the catalogues after this date, although preserve set, pattern #2414, was included in Illustrated List no. 39, circa 1960 [3].
showing both the pattern name and number
Although the earlier catalogues only show images of the range in flint (clear) glass, the 1925 illustrated list (number 22) includes the 2414 pattern vase in the list of coloured goods [1]. This list shows the vase was also manufactured in Sunglow, Sowerby’s name for marigold carnival glass and Rainbo Lustre, their amethyst carnival glass. The vase is not incorporated in the coloured goods list in the 1927 catalogue (list 23) [4], which may indicate the vase only had a short production run in coloured glass. However, David Doty’s carnival glass website shows a pattern #2414 biscuit barrel in a Sunglow finish [5] which is not included in Sowerby’s Illustrated Lists No.s 22 [1], 23 [4], 29 [2], 30 [6], 31 [7], 32 [8] or 33 [9]. As the earlier catalogues state Sowerby’s take orders for coloured goods and would provide quotes “on receipt of enquiries”, it is possible items were produced in colours different to the ones advertised in the catalogues [1, 2, 4]. When the pattern was reintroduced as a chrome mounted preserve set, in the 1960s [3], it was offered in flint, green and pink.
The following table details the individual items manufactured as pattern #2414 (Derby) with descriptions, dates, sizes and catalogue images compiled from various Sowerby catalogues.
| Item | Years Produced | Sizes (inches) | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl, Round | 1925 – 1940 | 6½”, 7½”, 8½”, 9½” |  |
| Bowl, Salad | 1925 – 1931 | 9½” | |
| Bowl, Salad with Stand | 1933 – 1936 | 9½” – Height 10″ |  |
| Dish, Oval | 1925 – 1940 | 6½”, 7½”, 8½”, 9½”, 10¼” |  |
| Dish, Square | 1925 – 1927 |  | |
| Boat, Diamond Shape | 1931 – 1938 1940 | 7″, 8″, 9″, 10″, 11″ 7″ |  |
| Preserve Set, Oval | 1960 | 7″ |  |
| Preserve Set, Square | 1960 | 7″ | (no image) |
| Biscuit, Barrel | 1925 – 1931 |  | |
| Biscuit, Straight | 1925 |  | |
| Marmalade, Barrel | 1925 – 1931 | | |
| Marmalade, Straight | 1925 | | |
| Sugar, Deep | 1931 – 1933 |  | |
| Sugar, Footed | 1936 | 5½” diameter |  |
| Sugar, Handled | 1925 – 1931 |  | |
| Cream | 1927 – 1933 |  | |
| Rose Bowl & Block | 1927 – 1931 | 2½” Block |  |
| Rose Bowl With Holder | 1925 1927 – 1931 | | |
| Holder | 1933 – 1940 | 3″, 3½”, 4″, 4½”, 5½” |  |
| Vase | 1925 – 1940 | 6″, 8″, 10″ |  |
Around the same time that Sowerby’s were producing the Derby suite, the Czechoslovakian manufacturer, Josef Inwald was manufacturing a very similar looking range [10]. However, when the patterns are compared side by side there are discerable differences.
References
1. Illustrated Pattern Book No. 22, Circa 1925, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
2. Illustrated List No. 29, February 1931, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
3. Illustrated List No. 39, Circa 1960, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
4. Illustrated Pattern Book No. 23, October 1927, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
5. David Doty’s Carnival Glass Website
6. Illustrated List No. 30, December 1933 (Sowerby’s Ellison Glass Works, Glen & Stephen Thistlewood)
7. Illustrated List No. 31, January 1936, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
8. Illustrated List No. 32, January 1938, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
9. Illustrated List No. 33, January 1940, courtesy of Victorian Pressed Glass
10. Collecting Glass Volume 2 by William Heacock
Heart Of Glass 