Fostoria Glass Company 'Navarre' Pattern Etched Goblet

This is a vintage stemware goblet crafted from clear, high-quality non-lead or low-lead pressed and etched glass. The piece is characterized by the iconic 'Navarre' pattern, which was produced by the Fostoria Glass Company starting in the late 1930s. Physically, the item features a bell-shaped bowl that flares slightly at the rim, supported by a multi-faceted stem and a circular, flat base. The decorative scheme consists of delicate, needle-etched floral motifs, specifically stylized bouquets held within diamond-shaped lace or scrolled borders, interspersed with vertical leaf sprays. The construction shows the transition from pressed glass blanks to hand-finished etching, a hallmarks of Mid-Century American elegant glass. The glass is clear with high clarity and no significant yellowing or cloudiness, known as 'sick glass.' Visible condition appears excellent with no apparent chips, cracks, or deep scratches, though minor shelf wear on the bottom of the base is expected for its age. This style of 'Elegant Glass' was a staple of formal American dining from the 1940s through the 1970s. The craftsmanship is evident in the precision of the etchings and the lack of prominent mold seams often found in lower-quality soda-lime glass of the same era.

Based on my visual examination of the Fostoria 'Navarre' (Clear) water goblet, I have determined the piece to be an authentic example of American Elegant Glass produced in Moundsville, West Virginia. The item exhibits the characteristic #6016 stem and the intricate #327 needle etching that defines the Navarre pattern, which remained Fostoria’s most popular design from 1936 until the factory’s closure in 1986. The condition appears to be 'Excellent,' showing high clarity, no visible lime scale (cloudiness), and crisp etching. The absence of prominent mold seams confirms the fire-polished finishing typical of Fostoria’s high-quality production. The market for mid-century stemware is currently stable but saturated. While Navarre is a classic and highly recognizable pattern, its long production run means it is not rare. Current market comparables on secondary platforms like eBay and Replacements, Ltd. show individual goblets consistently selling in the $25 to $35 range. Value is significantly enhanced when items are sold in sets of four, eight, or twelve. The primary detractor for value in this category is 'sick glass' or dishwasher etching, which this specimen fortunately lacks. Limitation Disclosure: This appraisal is based on digital images alone. A physical inspection is required to definitively rule out micro-chips along the rim or base, or 'flea bites' that are not visible in photographs. Furthermore, I cannot verify the resonance or 'ring' of the glass through imagery, which helps distinguish earlier production batches. Full authentication would benefit from observing the item under a UV light to check for the faint yellow-green glow characteristic of manganese used in mid-century glass formulas.