I’ve had several pieces with the Hughes Cornflower cutting over the years and am grateful to the kind person on eBay who told me what the design was called. Hughes was a Canadian who started a cutting company in his basement that became one of the best known glass decorating firms. Their premiere design was Cornflower.
Cornflower is a flower and leaf design that you won’t mistake once you see it. The flowers have 12 petals with fringes around the tips formed by tiny cuts. Flower centers have hexagonal grid and the leaves are deeply cut sprays.
This picture is from the article by Walter Lemiski on the National Depression Glass Association website. My thanks for its use.
Hughes Corn Flower: An Elegant Canadian Tradition
Hughes Cornflower Design Detail – Photo from Walter Lemiski
The company made no glass but bought plain pieces from companies like Imperial or New Martinsville. This attractive sugar bowl with handles that look like ears is New Martinsville Radiance, a depression era pattern that the Viking company continued to make into the 1940s. The Cornflower cutting is on four places around the bowl.
Hughes Cornflower on New Martinsville Radiance Crystal Sugar Bowl
This is another interesting article by Walter Lemiski you might enjoy reading. Some of the pictures show the design better than my clear sugar does. Scroll down to the green compote to see a lovely example!
Hughes Corn Flower by Walter Lemiski
Mr. Lemiski mentioned that Hughes relied on glass from Imperial, Viking and Federal. When Imperial went out of business in 1986 it caused serious problems for Hughes and they also closed their doors shortly after. All told Hughes was in business for over 75 years, mostly cutting this charming flower design on glass.