COLLECTIBLES : 100-Year-Old Cake Stands Pressed Into Service Again

Etched with ivy leaves, draped with a lacy glass apron or studded with gemlike nobs, a pressed-glass cake stand creates a striking presentation, elevating even the plainest cake to star status.

Today’s collectors might find these regal pedestals extraordinary, but they were nothing but ordinary at the height of American pressed-glass production in the later 1800s.

Formed in brass or iron molds, pressed or “pattern” glass was inexpensive to produce. At first, glass companies mainly filled orders for water goblets and tumblers.

But as the economy flourished in the 1860s and ‘70s, so did the market for more unusual domestic items. Glass companies expanded their lines to include a variety of specialized pieces, among them resplendent cake stands.

Pressed-glass cake stands were turned out in myriad patterns to suit anyone’s taste, and in sizes ranging from 12 inches in diameter to petite children’s versions. Some stands were offered in soft, jewel-like colors of amber, emerald, canary, blue and amethyst. Frosted finishes added texture to the glass.

Copperwheel engraving, very popular in the 1890s, enabled delicate impressions, such as featherlike ferns, to grace the tops of the cake for cake stands.

By 1900, the solvency of glass factories was challenged by the dwindling supply of natural gas, child labor laws and fierce competition.

The fascination with pressed glass faded, and companies sold off their inventories at much reduced prices.

Today, a cake stand that changed hands for under a dollar in the 1800s is worth anywhere from $40 to $125, depending on the rarity of the pattern, detail, clarity and color. They can be found at garage sales, flea markets, antiques malls and through antiques dealers.

Look for telltale signs of its authentic vintage. Straw or sheer marks, which look like tiny imperfections in the glass, resulted from the cooling process.

Also examine the base of the pedestal for wear marks, indicating age and use.

Cake stands can be put to use in many ways. Many collectors keep a stand in the kitchen, piled with fresh fruit.

These poised plates can be used with fine china or everyday tableware. Condiments can be set atop a pedestal, and silverware can be fanned out on a stand to accent a buffet table.

Petite stands can be used to serve brownies, cookies, or after-dinner mints.