Federal Glass Pedestal Mugs

Also known as Footed Mugs or Continental Cups, there are three types of opal glass pedestal mugs that are relevant to Corelle & Corning Ware patterns.  The mugs were manufactured by Federal Glass, but often another company was responsible for printing them with copied patterns. 

They are undoubtedly look-alike products.  They are not Pyrex and are not made by Corning Glass Works, or even licensed by the company.  If they had been licensed products, produced with Corning's permission, then their decorations would be identical to the original patterns in every detail.

Federal Glass pedestal mugs.  B-handle at left; taller heavier style at right.

B-Handle Pedestal Mugs
One type of mug with imitation Corelle & Corning Ware patterns stands about 4½" tall with a "B" shaped handle.  They were distributed by James Bradley Associates under the brand name "Glassmates".  The mugs were probably purchased undecorated from Federal, and the patterns applied by JBA.  It is the Glassmates name that dominates the original packaging, not Federal Glass.  A few bear the Federal logo, but it seems many have no maker's mark at all, stamped simply "Heat-Proof ... U.S.A.", or even just "U.S.A." 

James Bradley Assoc. Butterfly Gold version on B-handle pedestal mug.  It is a crude reproduction of the Corelle pattern.

This style can be found decorated with imitations of: Snowflake Blue, Butterfly Gold, Spring Blossom Green, Old Town Blue, Woodland Brown, April, Blue Heather, Indian Summer, Meadow, Spice O' Life (two versions).
        
There are two distinct variations of Spice O' Life on B-handle pedestal mugs.  One version, from JBA Glassmates, depicts a brown tomato and a red tomato along with other vegetables, and the design is underlined by two mushrooms and a row of herbs.

The other version includes a crooked carrot and one tomato, matching the chrome-top accessories made by Dominion Glass.  Both of these fake Spice patterns exist on ordinary Federal Glass mugs too.

(Photo: B-handle mug imitating Spice O' Life, with a crooked carrot.  The mug is Federal Glass, but this exact design also appears on Dominion Glass products.  It is unclear which company is responsible for decorating this item.)

Tall & Heavy Pedestal Mugs 
The second type of mug stands 5½" on a taller pedestal, and it has a more conventional handle which is angled upwards.  The base is very thick and heavy.  Commonly this style is found with a look-alike Spice O' Life pattern, but no other Corelle or Corning Ware designs.  It is not known whether they were decorated by Federal or by another company.  It seems that none of them have a maker's mark, but a reference book identifies this shape as a product of Federal Glass.

Other decorations 
Both types of pedestal mugs have been printed with various designs that are unrelated to Corning Ware or Corelle.  Some are decorative patterns with widespread appeal, like flowers, birds or fruits.  But many are printed with company advertising or as tourist souvenirs.  Some seem to be fairly trivial enterprises and it is doubtful that Federal was taking orders like this.

For example, mugs printed to commemorate a high school reunion hardly seem like a job large enough for a major glass manufacturer to bother with.  Federal Glass likely sold blank mugs to local third party printing companies who would use them for the "your name here" kind of custom designs.

Another style
There is a third type of pedestal mug, and original packaging shows that Federal Glass named this shape a Continental Cup.  It can be found with many different decorations, but one in particular is reminiscent of Blue Cornflower.  Federal produced matching nesting bowl sets and casseroles too.  Mugs in this style also exist with an abstract turquoise bird design that is vaguely suggestive of Butterprint's rooster.

(Photo: The third pedestal mug shape from Federal with a design similar to Blue Cornflower.) 

Federal Glass nesting bowl, 5 inch diameter.


Related Articles:

Other Brands: Dominion Glass
Corelle Profiles: Butterfly Gold, Spring Blossom Green, Snowflake Blue 
Corelle Profiles: Old Town Blue, Woodland Brown 
Corelle Profiles: April, Blue Heather, Indian Summer, Meadow 
Corelle Profiles: Blue Cornflower, Spice O' Life 
Other Brands: Salt & Pepper Shakers, Federal Glass
Other Brands: Hazel Atlas