The Cambridge Swans – Part II by Les Hansen

Published July 1999

In the first of a series of articles on Cambridge swans, the three “types” of swans were discussed. This article will focus on the colors of swans produced by Cambridge. All six sizes (3”, 4½”, 6½’”, 8½”, 10” and 13”) of Type 1 swans were produced in Crystal, Light Emerald, Peachblo (or Dianthus Pink) and Ebony. Just two of the sizes, the 8½” and 10”, were produced in four additional colors – Amber, Gold Krystol, Forest Green and Crown Tuscan – in the Type 1 swans which had full feather detail. These last four colors of swans were probably not produced until after the 1933 change from Type 1 to Type 2 for the 3” swans. This is because none of these four colors were produced in Type 1 for the 3” size, but all four colors were produced in the Type 2 for the 3” size. Therefore, the total number of different size and color combinations of Type 1 swans is 32. This total doesn’t include swans that were decorated after coming out of the molds, which will be reviewed in the next article of this series.

No. 1221 – 16 in. Swan Punch Bowl No. 1221 – Swan Punch Bowl and Base

Type 2 swans little or may have some feather detail and were made in only four sizes (3”, 4½", 8½”, and 16”). The 3” Type 2 swans were made in all of the colors of Type 1 swans – Crystal, Light Emerald, Peachblo, Ebony, Amber, Gold Krystol, Forest Green and Crown Tuscan – plus the two additional colors of Carmen and Royal Blue. The 8½” Type 2 swan was made in only Crystal, Forest Green, Crown Tuscan and Moonlight and the 16” punch bowl Type 2 swan was almost certainly made in Crystal only. Thus a total of 17 different size and color combinations for Type 2 swans can be found, again excluding decorations.

At this point, it would probably be wise to discuss the topic of Amber versus Mocha swans. It is quite obvious that the 3” (Type 2), 8½” and 10” (both Type 1) swans were produced in two fairly distinct intensities of Amber – a light amber and dark amber. Some collectors refer to the light amber swans as being Mocha. The problem with this designation is that Mocha was not introduced until 1938, and the mold for the 8½” swan was altered from Type 1 to Type 2 in 1937. Furthermore, I am unaware of any company materials (price lists, catalogs, or promotional materials) that indicate that Mocha swans were produced. I suspect that all of the amber-colored swans were considered to be Amber by Cambridge and were simply produced in two intensities of Amber. This would be consistent with a wide range of colors for Peachblo (or Dianthus Pink) swans, which have a broad range of tones and intensities ranging from almost orange, to a true pink, and on to a deep brownish pink. Whether or not to distinguish between these alternative tones and intensities of Amber and Peach-blo swans is up to the individual swan collector. Personally, for the reasons presented here, I don’t distinguish between them.

The molds for all sizes of swans were altered in 1939 or soon thereafter, to remove all feather detail and to produce the Type 3 swans. Initially, at least, Type 3 swans were produced in only Crystal and Crown Tuscan. This is because the other colors for Type 3 swans were not introduced by Cambridge until much later – Mandarin Gold and Late Dark Emerald in 1949, Carmen (reintroduced) in 1950, Milk in 1954, and Smoke in 1955 or 1956. Type 3 swans were made in all seven of the sizes, and all of the sizes were produced in Crystal. Apparently, the 10” and 13” sizes were produced in Crystal only. Crown Tuscan Type 3 swans were made in only the 3” and 8½” sizes. However, Mandarin Gold and Late Emerald Dark Emerald swans were made in three sizes (3”,6 ½”, 8½”). Carmen Type 3 swans were produced in these same three sizes plus the 16” punch bowl. Milk swans were produced only during the first half of 1954, however, surprisingly they were made in five sizes – all but the 10” and 13”. Cambridge made swans during the reopen years (1955-1958), including a small number of 3” swans in Smoke. Hence, the combinations of size and color for Type 3 swans (undecorated) total 25.

Mention should be made of suspected Heatherbloom swans. The consensus among swan collectors, as well as most dealers of Cambridge glass, is that Cambridge didn’t make Heatherbloom swans. All swans that might appear to be Heatherbloom are probably sun-colored Crystal. Furthermore, some collectors have coined the names of “Amberina,” “Tangerine,” and “Heatherpink” as colors for Cambridge swans. As far as I know, Cambridge didn’t officially produce any of these colors. The “Amberina” color almost certainly is simply Carmen with yellow streaks, often in the neck and feet of swans (especially for the 3” Type 2). The “Tangerine” color name was coined for 3” Type 3 swans that are almost solid red-orange; one of these swans was on display in the former NCC museum. The so-called ”Heatherpink” swans have a very faint lavender/pink cast and seem to be found in only the 3” and 6½” sizes of Type 1 swans. “Tangerine” and “Heatherpink” could have been experimental or special order colors. More probable explanations for these colors might be that “Tangerine” resulted from a “bad” batch of Carmen and “Heatherpink” resulted from a “bad” batch of Crystal.

We are now up to 78 different combinations of type, size, and color for Cambridge swans. Of these, 32 are Type 1, 17 are Type 2, and 29 are Type 3. (This total doesn’t include those swans that some collectors have designated as Mocha, Heatherbloom, “Amberina”, “Tangerine” or “Heatherpink.) Also, reported sightings abound of single swans in type, size, and color combinations that were not supposedly produced by Cambridge. Typically, these renegade loners (if they, in fact, exist) have been in the 6½” and 8½” sizes. I have provided in this article only those colors of swans that have been confirmed as produced by Cambridge in multiple. We have yet to review the many decorations that were placed on Cambridge swans, as well as swans that were specially designed as candlesticks, flower pots, or covered candy dishes. These swans will be discussed in the next article of this series. If you have information that will be helpful in documenting the production of additional colors of Cambridge swans, feel free to contact me at 898 Hunt Place, St. Paul, MN 55114 or by email at hanse009@tc.umn.edu

Swan Colors by Type