Monday, April 22, 2013

Yes! I Have No Bananas...In my EAPG Banana Stand!

Years ago Sam and I were browsing
the local antiques mall and I happened upon
a strange looking glass stand.
Labeled a "Banana Stand" it looked like
a cake stand with turned up sides in a U shape,
with a cool pattern pressed into the glass.
Suddenly, I wanted to own a banana stand.
Its price of $80 made me think I didn't need it that badly.
Soon after that trip however, thanks to good ol' Ebay,
I procured one at a great $20 price. 
You can find many listed on Ebay for great prices
at any given time HERE.

This is my E.A.P.G. Bryce, Higbee & Co.
Banana Stand,
 with a "Medallion Sunburst" pattern circa 1905.
I don't know if mine is as old as that
but the pattern on the glass is that old.
Estimates say that there were over
3000 different patterns made by hundreds
of glass companies of the era.
What is E.A.P.G.?
That stands for Early American Pattern Glass.
Also known as "pressed glass" and even
"Victorian glass".  It covers a wide
range of patterned glass tableware and
novelty glass items manufactured during the
Victorian era around 1850 to 1910.
It was rare for an average family of the time
to have a complete set of the same pattern.
As they would often give and receive pieces
of other sets for special
occasions and weddings.
It was believed that bananas (known to ripen
quickly and get brown spots) when placed with other
fruit, would cause that fruit to ripen fast too.
image source
Companies came up with the banana stand
to keep the bananas elevated away
from the rest of the fruit.
Here's a banana stand featured on
the cover of a "Chiquita Banana Cookbook"

image source
available here
What a creative way to display the bananas
I never buy that many at any given time.
But I sure do love my banana stand!
Thanks for stopping by
and happy hunting!

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