Fostoria Glass was always on top of trends and moved into colored glass when it first became hot and they brought the Art Deco influence into their designs around the same time. You can see that with their gorgeous Trojan etch, which they introduced in Rose pink and Topaz yellow 1929. I have seen pink Trojan but have owned only the yellow.
The geometric shapes and strong verticals of this Trojan waterfall tall sherbet show how Fostoria brought Art Deco to elegant dining. Can you imagine using this 6 inch tall gorgeous piece for fruit or ice cream?
They made a full set of stemware, dinnerware, many serving pieces and decorative accessories in this beautiful design. One of my favorite pieces is this scroll handled console bowl.
Fostoria did not make all pieces throughout the Trojan production pieces. Many of the accessory pieces, such as the sugar pail, lasted just a year or two before Fostoria discontinued them. You ask what is a sugar pail? It’s like a small ice bucket with a metal handle and no, I can’t see why you would need one either but apparently someone thought people did! Perhaps it’s for sugar cubes?
There are several Trojan candle holders, this one with the scroll top matches the lovely console bowl shown above. Back in the day families put small, shallow tables in the hallway or sometimes in the formal living room called console tables. A console set was a wide, decorative bowl flanked by matching candle holders. We don’t see this type of décor often today.
Fostoria made several candle holders which they used for Trojan and other contemporaneous etches such as June. One interesting piece combines a console bowl with attached candle cups. I prefer the separate pieces but this etagere-like piece would be useful in a smaller space.
Most of the Trojan dinnerware is on the Fairfax blank, the same as June or Versailles. This blank is unfussy, simple, elegant, and shows off the etch. Here is the cup and saucer.
Trojan plates and bowls have plain centers which can show wear. If you like Trojan for table use you may want to avoid using it with foods that require vigorous cutting.
At one time we had enough Trojan for a basic table setting. I love the sunny yellow color and the beautiful etch.
I took those pictures in a room with poor lighting so the colors are not as clear as they were in person. The little crystal comport is Chintz, another Fostoria pattern and the silver flatware is Rose Point (which matched Cambridge Rose Point crystal.)
The little footed tumbler is the water size. It holds about 9 ounces filled right to the brim.
There are many Trojan-etched serving pieces. Some, like the sugar pail may be obscure today but look for serving bowls, platters, pitchers, sauce dishes, shakers, relish plates, cheese and cracker sets, center handled trays, ash trays.
Since Trojan is an older pattern made nearly 100 years ago, you may need to look at estate sales, auctions, glass shows, antique malls and online to get the pieces you want. Just now on eBay there is a good selection in topaz with many pieces of stemware, dinnerware and accessory/decorative items. It is not an inexpensive pattern to accumulate although if you consider the age, beauty and style it’s in line with high quality dinnerware or stemware.
As always, enjoy your glass!