The Viking Glass Company was well-known in the 20th century for its beautiful and colorful glassware, including vases, tableware, and many decorative bird and animal figurines.
Viking’s history began in 1944, when G.R. Cummings purchased the defunct New Martinsville Glass Company and relaunched it as Viking. With new stockholders, an expanded product line and a new vision, Viking glass sales thrived until the 1980s, but financial issues caused Viking to shut down in 1986. In 1988 it was purchased by Kenneth Dalzell, formerly of Fostoria Glass, and produced glass under the name Dalzell-Viking until 1998, when it closed its doors forever.
Viking glass has a strong mid-century modern vibe with a Scandanavian influence. Bright colors and clean, contemporary outlines are a distinguishing feature. Viking glass is not marked – it can be identified by original paper labels, by color or by comparing to photos in Viking’s product catalogs.
Viking produced several highly collectible cat figurines:
The Epic Cat – 1950’s – 1970’s
Arguably the most distinctive figurines Viking produced were those in their “Epic” line, which included a long tailed bird, a duck, a rooster, a dog and the Epic cat (#1322). Measuring 8” high, the cat was produced in orange (persimmon), crystal, amber, dark blue (bluenique), avocado green and ruby red. Originals are highly sought after, commanding prices in the low to mid hundreds, depending on color and condition.
Newer reissues of the epic cat have been pressed from the original mould by Mosser Glass of Cambridge Ohio. These reissues offer the charm of the original epic cats in an updated range of colors, like eggplant, jade, robin’s egg blue, and crown tuscan.
Viking Epic Cat – by Mosser Glass – Jade
Viking Epic Cat by Mosser Glass – Front and back view
Epic Cat Photo Credits: Dan Stahl – Farmhouse Vintage Treasures
Cat (Minimalistic / stylized cat) – 1970’s
This simple blown glass cat is difficult to identify without a label because many glass companies in the mid 20th century produced similar items.
The story behind these cats begins at Rainbow Glass. Founded in 1954, the Rainbow Glass Company of Huntington WV produced a wide array of colorful and decorative glass items. From 1969 to 1972, Rainbow’s lineup included these simple blown-glass cats. According to a 1972 Rainbow glass ad, they were product numbers #802 (5.25”) and #801L (a taller version). These can be most easily be identified today if they have all or part of the Rainbow label.
Below: Rainbow Glass cat #802 in a dark blue, with the Rainbow label
In 1973, Rainbow was purchased by and became a full subsidiary of Viking glass. The factory continued to operate, producing some of Rainbow’s most popular designs, including the cat. The Viking labeled cats were made from 1974-1977 in two sizes – 5.8” (#7286) and 6.8” high (#7272). Colors included crystal, avocado green, persimmon (orange), ruby red, amber, and Viking’s iconic “bluenique” dark blue.
Other glass cats sometimes mistaken for the Rainbow / Viking cats:
Pilgrim Glass
Similar size, shape and popular mid century colors. According to illustrations in Pilgrim’s 1970 catalog, the Pilgrim cats can be distinguished by a vertically elongated head and a curved back, whereas the Viking and Rainbow cats have a shorter, wider head and a straight back.
Kanawha
Kanawha Glass produced a Smiling Cat which at first glance also looks like the Viking and Rainbow cats, but the Kanawha cats have a deeper body, more defined front legs, closed eyes … and that big smile!
Kanawha smiling cat
Various Scandanavian glass companies also made minimalistic stylized cat figurines out of blown glass. Too many to list.
Viking Glass Kitten Bookends – 1972-1985
Viking made three different figural bookends in the shape of a glass kitten – numbers 7881, 8155 and D7957. The kitten pictured above is #8155, which is 5.5″ tall. These have a frosted “satin” finish with clear accents on the eyes, nose and ears. They are most often found today in crystal, but they were also made in pink, light blue and amber. They are easily identified by their flat back.