UTILITIES SPECIALTIES

Fiore Ricciardelli, an immigrant from San Pauline, Avellino, Italy, founded Utilities Specialties in 1908, first as an electro-plating concern and later as a restaurant ware manufacturer and distributor. He ran the business with his sons Rudolph and Edward.

Slowly the manufacturing part of the business was phased out until only distribution was left in the 1970s. The company was dissolved in 1981.  The location was always 206-208 Van Vorst Street on the Morris Canal in Jersey City. (One flip has been located that is backstamped with a 141 Railroad Avenue address in Jersey City. Railroad Avenue is now Christopher Columbus Drive -- several blocks from Van Vorst.)

Thanks to Ricciardelli's great-granddaughter Maria Samuelsson for contributing this information. Her aunt believes the glass bowls were made by Pyrex; and he worked closely with Corning Glass when he designed a coffee percolator made by Pyrex. It is not known what company (or companies) made the vitrified clay bowls.

Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5"
Date code: none
Lid manufacturer: Utilities Specialties
Hole for spoon: yes
Photo of backstamp:

(Click photo above for larger image)
This green one got away, but here's a thumbnail of what it looked like on the web:



Dimensions: 4.5" x 2 7/8"
Date code: none
Lid manufacturer: Utilities Specialties
Hole for spoon: yes
Photo of backstamp:

Photo of lid backstamp:






The pearlized flips:

Came in two sizes: 5 5/8" x 3 1/2" and 4 5/8" x 3".
They are known to exist in a soft blue, soft green, and rich burgundy and purple (pictured below, left).

The finish is slightly marbled -- though it's impossible to tell if this is from wear and washing -- and it definitely has a pearlized sheen/lustre that is unique among flip glazes.

The wear suggests that the lustre-like glaze was low-fire and has not held up well over time.
The pieces are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's lustre glass and with the exception of the burgundy, the palette is atypical of most commercial ware.

Backstamp was either Utilities Specialties Co. Inc., Jersey City, N.J., or as below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one seen below left and in detail below has the most unusual surface design of all in that it appears to be mauve and green marbled.

This is the large size with a backstamp that says:

Utilities Specialties Co. Inc.
JERSEY CITY, N.J.
U. S. A.

The stamp on the lid is similar to the one above, but looks smaller.



4 5/8" x 2 7/8"
Lid stamped Utilities Specialties



5 3/4" x 3 3/4"
Marked on cover: Utilities Specialties


6 7/8" x 4 3/4"
Same as above, just larger


7 7/8" x 5 1/2"
Same as above, but very unusual to find one this large


Bowl's lid is marked H. Friedman & Sons (a New York City distributor).

(Note for future in identifying china manufacturer: This company was a known distributor of Hall China. )


Bottom is marked Utilities Specialties.



5 3/4" x 3 3/4"
Marked on cover and bowl: Utilities Specialties


Glass

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