LindaJo’s Guide to Names of Common

Design Motifs of American Brilliant Cut Glass

This is a very basic reference. Books on American Brilliant Cut Glass will further detail other design motifs and their variations.

                                       

Miter cut

A miter cut is one of the basic and most commonly used elements in American Brilliant Cut glass. A miter was produced by a cutting wheel with a sharp V-shaped edge. The angle of the V and the size of the wheel enabled the cutter to create a variety of design elements. The vast majority of designs are cut with miters from large to small.

                                                   

Pyramidal Star

A common design feature that creates a star out of miters that radiate from a central point. Star shapes feature prominently in many patterns and are used as both a major and minor design element.

 

                                                                   

Hobnail or Button

A hobnail is a raised 6 or 8 sided figure named after a hobnail on a man’s boot. Early in the Brilliant Period the entire piece may have been covered in this motif. Later it is used in more intricate types of cuttings as illustrated here, or incorporated into cane cutting as a small motif.

 

                                                                   

Buzz Star or Pinwheel

A star motif that features a swirling effect. Used after 1899. Often has the center decorated with a smaller hobstar or other pattern.

 

                                                       

Hobstar

A star motif with a raised hob or button center. A common and often major motif in many American Brilliant cut glass patterns. The hobstar can have as few as five points, or eight points, to as many as forty-five points on some of the most intricate examples. The center may be left plain, decorated with a star or other design. The hobstar was used as both a major and minor design element.

 

                                       

Fan

A fan is a group of miter cuts that radiate from a single point. This is an often used motif on the outside edge of bowls and plates.

 

                                           

Bull’s Eye or Punty

A bull’s eye, or punty is a concave shape that has been sculpted out of the surface of the glass. These can be round, oval, or oblong and are always polished to give an interesting optical effect.

 

                                               

Cane or Chair Bottom

Cane cutting is a design element made up of many small hobnails that truly does resemble the cane on an old chair. The larger interpretation of this pattern is often referred to as Harvard-style cutting.

 

                                               

Notched Prism, Zipper Cut, or Beading

This element features rows of miter cuts that are decorated with small punty cutting that resembles a zipper or string of beads.

 

                                                           

Strawberry Diamond

is a pattern of large and small crossing miters. Featured as an all over pattern early in the period, and later used between major miter cuts on more complicated designs to fill in areas of the pattern.

 

                                                                       

Crosshatching or Silver Diamond

This element has finely cut lines that resemble window screen and is used to fill in areas between large miter cuts.

 

Feathering or Flashing

This element features a series of small, parallel miter cuts that outline a major miter. Flashing is also used to accent hobstars or may decorate the points of fans.