Etched Crystal Goblet with Flying Pheasant Motif

This 5-3/4 inch tall stemware piece is a fine example of sporting-themed glassware, likely mid-20th-century American crystal. The piece is constructed from clear, high-quality glass with a notable clarity and luster. The bowl is a rounded tulip shape, featuring a meticulously wheel-etched or sandblasted scene of a pheasant in flight. The bird is depicted with significant detail, showing feathered texture and a long tail, set amidst a landscape of stylized conifers and grasses. Smaller birds are etched in the distance to provide a sense of depth. The stem is particularly decorative, featuring a multi-part construction with a prominent ribbed or optic-blown central knob (baluster) flanked by smaller wafers, providing both visual interest and an ergonomic grip. The glass flows into a flat, circular foot that provides a stable base. The craftsmanship shows high precision in the etching, which remains frosty and crisp against the polished glass. Condition appears excellent with no visible chips, cracks, or clouding; the rim is smooth and the foot shows only minor shelf wear. This style is consistent with mid-century manufacturers such as Tiffin or Morgantown, who frequently produced 'hunt' or 'field' themed barware for the post-war luxury market.

I have conducted a visual examination of the 5-3/4 inch etched crystal goblet featuring a pheasant motif. The piece displays a high degree of clarity and resonant quality characteristic of mid-20th-century luxury lead crystal. The wheel-etched artistry is executed with precision, particularly in the textural rendering of the pheasant’s plumage and the depth-of-field created by the background elements. The baluster stem and wafer construction suggest a catalog period between 1940 and 1960, consistent with the sporting-themed lines produced by American domestic glass houses such as Tiffin-Franciscan or Morgantown. Condition appears excellent with no visible calcification or 'sick' glass, and the minor shelf wear on the foot confirms its vintage nature. The market for 'Field and Stream' style barware remains stable, particularly among collectors of Americana and hunting memorabilia. However, because these pieces were often produced in sets, individual goblets command a lower per-unit price than complete sets of six or eight. Comparative sales for themed mid-century stemware generally fall within the $40 to $70 range depending on the specific pattern and maker identification. Limitations: This appraisal is based on photographic evidence. A formal authentication would require an in-person inspection to verify the presence of a maker's mark (often an acid-etched signature on the base), measure the lead content via UV light fluorescence, and check for micro-chips along the rim. Documentation of provenance or an original box would further solidify the attribution to a specific manufacturer. Without physical handling, I cannot definitively distinguish between high-end vintage crystal and more contemporary high-quality reproductions, though the stem construction strongly supports a mid-century origin.