Cambridge Glass Prices: Rondel Mark and Crown Tuscan
Cambridge Glass Company of Cambridge, Ohio operated from 1902 until 1958 and is best known for high-quality crystal, elegant etchings, and the distinctive Crown Tuscan opaque pink color. Common crystal Cambridge pieces sell for $15-$60 at estate sales and flea markets; Crown Tuscan with gold decoration runs $40-$400 depending on form; rare colors like Heatherbloom (lavender) or Ebony with gold reach $150-$800. The Triangle C or Rondel C mark confirms genuine Cambridge production and separates it from the many Imperial mold reproductions made after 1960.
Cambridge Marks and Their Significance
Cambridge used a C inside a triangle from approximately 1920 onward, molded into the base of many — though not all — pieces. The Rondel mark, a C inside a circle, appears on some lines. Pieces without marks are often genuine Cambridge attributable by pattern cross-reference; consult the National Cambridge Collectors reference books before dismissing an unmarked piece. Imperial Glass acquired Cambridge molds in 1960 and reproduced pieces in various colors — genuine Cambridge has sharper mold detail and typically heavier weight than Imperial reproductions. Imperial versions sometimes carry Cambridge by Imperial paper labels.
Crown Tuscan — Cambridge's Signature Color
Crown Tuscan is an opaque pink glass developed by Cambridge in 1932. Its warm, flesh-tone pink with occasional gold or platinum decoration is immediately recognizable and widely collected. Plain Crown Tuscan without decoration sells for $20-$80 per piece. Crown Tuscan with gold encrusted etching (Rose Point or Wildflower patterns) runs $60-$300 for serving pieces; large compotes, console sets, and urns reach $200-$400. Crown Tuscan with Charleton decoration (painted flowers added by an outside decorator) sells for $40-$200 and appeals to a separate decorative collector base.
Rare Cambridge Colors
Cambridge produced a range of colors, several of which command strong premiums. Heatherbloom (a soft lavender, produced briefly in the 1930s) sells for $80-$400 for standard patterns; rare Heatherbloom pieces in desirable forms push $500-$800. Royal Blue is deeply saturated and collectible at $40-$200 per piece. Amethyst runs $30-$150. Forest Green (mid-tone emerald) and Mocha (a warm brown) are more common at $15-$60. Ebony (opaque black) with gold decoration ranges $30-$150. Peach-blo (a transparent pink predecessor to Crown Tuscan) sells for $20-$80.
Cambridge Etchings and Their Values
Cambridge's most valuable crystal pattern is Rose Point — a deeply etched rose and scroll design used across hundreds of forms. Rose Point on crystal sells for $20-$120 per piece depending on form; Rose Point on rare colors multiplies by 2-4x. Wildflower etching is slightly simpler and runs $15-$80 per piece. Chantilly and Elaine are popular patterns with active collector communities selling at $15-$60 per piece. Complete sets in any etched pattern command disproportionate premiums — a complete Rose Point service for eight can reach $600-$1,500 at estate auction.
What Shows Up at Secondary Sales
Cambridge glass appears regularly at Midwest estate sales, particularly in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan where the company's distribution was strongest. Punch bowls, console sets, and bridge sets are common finds. Items often appear in mixed lots with other Ohio glass companies (Heisey, Imperial, Tiffin) because Depression-era homemakers collected across brands. Misidentification is common — check pattern and mark before pricing. The National Cambridge Collectors club maintains identification resources and a biannual show where pricing benchmarks are established by active market transactions.
Cambridge glass is a specialty find at estate sales and consignment auctions. List it on FindA.Sale with pattern name, color, and a base photo — National Cambridge Collectors members search specifically by those details.