A beautiful replica of an early American made antique glass toothpick holder in the form of a dog’s head.
Original piece was made by Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Works formerly of Greentown, Indiana, and is made in nile green or satin finish but this one was made by St Clair.
It is commonly referred to as the “Dog’s Head” toothpick holder but is also known as the Newfoundland Dog and the St. Bernard Dog.
The piece came from an avid toothpick holder collector's estate and was among a lot of St. Clair glass toothpick holders. I am possitive this is a reproduction for instance, the nostrils and are not as defined as the Indiana tumbler.
This Greentown made is pictured in the book Glass Toothpick Holders: by Neila & Tom Bredehoft and Jo & Bob Sanford on page 108 and the authors mention that this piece has been reproduced.
All Greentown Glass is relatively scarce because of the limited years it was made. The business began in 1894 and closed only nine years later in 1903 when the factory was destroyed by fire.
This shape has been reproduced since at least the late 1960s in a wide variety of colors. Some pieces–like those in vaseline, milk glass and others–are obviously new because such colors were not part of the original production. Other new pieces in traditional colors are less obvious.
The most confusing copies of the Dog Head toothpick were made by St. Clair Glass from about 1960-1970. Their version of Nile Green was quite close to the original color; their Chocolate was good, but less accurate than the green. Other St. Clair colors were clear, ruby and iridized cobalt all of which were never made in original production.
Although many pieces of St. Clair glass are permanently marked, the St. Clair copy of the Greentown Dog Head is not usually marked.
https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Greentown-Dog-Head-toothpick-holders
Measurements: 4 1/2" wide and 2 3/8" tall and 4" wide from the back rim to dogs nose. openning is 1 3/4" diameter
Condition: preowned, there is an indention with black on rim, heavy creases on jowels that look like cracks but are creases from the mold, rough glass under jowels