We’ve been posting about Fostoria Fairfax, looking at my favorite pieces, similar patterns you may find confusing, at interesting pieces, Fairfax stemware, colors, etched designs and now our last post, about the great go-with pieces Fostoria made. These are pieces that are not strictly part of the Fairfax pattern, not blank 2375, but made in the same colors and often used together.
Just to remind ourselves, this green gravy bowl is Fairfax. Notice it is slightly angular and has a subtle optic.
Be aware that Fostoria added a 1/2 to pieces in a pattern line that were different in some way. For example the flat cup lists as 2375 but the footed cup is 2375 1/2. Both are Fairfax. (I have never seen the flat cup in person.) This is the azure blue 2375 1/2 cup.
On the other hand, Fostoria apparently made the bouillon cup only with a foot and that is considered 2375, no 1/2 needed since there is no similar piece to differentiate.
It could be confusing, but my advice is not to worry. Get the style you like.
This go-with pattern is Line 2470. This pattern has no name nor are there many pieces for us.
This line number is elegant. It blends well with both Fairfax and the curvy Lafayette lines. It is strictly an accessory line, no dinnerware nor stemware, but several bowls, comports, candle holders, bon bons so it is fun to use along with the dinnerware lines.
You may be lucky enough to find 2470 in pink, green, topaz, wisteria (a light purple), ruby, blue, burgundy or the amber shown in the sweetmeat. In the 1950s Fostoria made the vase in cinnamon and spruce, two colors that were stylish for a couple years. I’ve seen only a few pieces and only in the yellows and greens. This is a stunning line!
Next is the 2395 1/2, which you see in the Trojan candle holder shown below. I love this Art Deco shape. I don’t know how well 2395 1/2 would work if none of the pieces were etched; it might look a little odd next to the angular Fairfax. When you see the etched designs your eye flows from one piece to the other more easily.
Of course you can blend Lafayette with Fairfax if you like. You can find pieces in both patterns in the same colors and the shapes are close enough. This small bon bon is Lafayette. The shape and optic and handles are different from Fairfax, but I don’t think you would find the differences jarring if you used both patterns.
Fostoria marketed pieces from other lines with Fairfax, especially stemware. For example, Trojan is on the stunning waterfall stem, line 5099.
In contrast, June and Versailles use the Fairfax stem, line 5098. It also has a crystal stem and colored bowl.
Fairfax line 2375 dinnerware and accessory pieces look good with both stem lines.
We probably saw more plain Fairfax than just about any other Fostoria blank except for Century or Baroque. I recall buying several plates and soup bowls from a dusty bottom shelf in a small antique mall. I went back to that mall several times but never saw more. We picked up the other plain Fairfax a piece or two at a time from flea markets or estate sales.
I think today you can probably find pieces at estate sales or malls but you most likely will need to go online or to glass shows for some less-common pieces. Fostoria made Fairfax for a long time, from 1928 to WW2 in 1941 and pieces are out there. Have fun looking for this great pattern and don’t worry about using other lines to augment when you like.