Owned and Curated by Glen and Stephen Thistlewood
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Big Butterfly (aka Butterfly) – United States Glass Company
Big Butterfly (aka Butterfly) – United States Glass Company
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What a Surprise!
The iconic Big Butterfly tumbler is known by several names: Big Butterfly, Butterfly, and also Butterfly and Bullseye. Here is the story of how the late Bob Smith acquired his marigold Big Butterfly tumbler – as told in contemporaneous emails between Bob to Glen & Stephen, in 2010. Over the course of twenty years, we exchanged emails (often several daily) with Bob Smith, as together we researched Carnival Glass. Our work was cutting edge, frequently going where no-one had been before. But we were much more than co-researchers, we were also close and very dear friends. Indeed, Bob bequeathed his entire Tumbler Collection to us in 2011 (and he reconfirmed his decision in 2016). We accepted and promised we would adhere faithfully to his dearest wish – that the collection would be kept together and would never be broken up and sold. We have all of Bob’s emails over those twenty years and they make very interesting reading. Let’s look at what they reveal about his *surprise* purchase of the Big Butterfly. On September 23rd, in 2010, Bob sent us an email telling us about 7 tumblers he planned to bid on in the upcoming Whitley Auction at St. Louis on October 2nd. Sadly, Bob’s health had been deteriorating for a few years prior to 2010, and he knew he couldn’t attend in person, so he planned to bid “live” by phone. The marigold Big Butterfly was item #50 and Bob told us he was “holding his breath”. We wrote back wishing him luck and told him we would have our fingers tightly crossed for him. Then, a few hours after the auction ended, we wrote to Bob, eager to learn how things had gone, and if he had won the Big Butterfly. Here’s our email exchanges: |
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From: Glen and Stephen Sent: 02 October 2010 19:29 To: 'NECGABOBSM’ Bob Smith Subject: What did you get? Hi Bob So … how did you get on? What did you manage to buy? I've tried to follow the ones you were after but I am not sure if you got them. How did you do? Glen. Bob replied, and he was rather unhappy, as he believed that he had not gotten the Big Butterfly. But he consoled himself that it had gone to a friend (Jackie) and he was pleased to have gotten five of the seven tumblers he had wanted. From: NECGABOBSM Bob Smith Sent: 02 October 2010 20:36 To: Glen and Stephen Subject: Auction Results Hi Glen: I managed to get 5 out of the seven. #14 -Waterlily & Cattails - Blue #90 -Plums & Cherries - Blue #91 - Banquet, Persian Blue w/Marigold Overlay #195- Inverted Feather, Marigold #225 - N's Drapery, White #50 The Big Butterfly - I was going to go up to $14,500, But I asked who I was bidding against and it was Jackie. I knew that was a lost cause because having a lot of money counts. I stopped at $11,000. Actually, I was happy that at least Jackie won it as we are friends and she was the first to congratulate me when I bought the Frolicking Bears. Frankly, I was very pleased at what I did get. There is always another day. Bob. Poor Bob – we commiserated with him, as we knew he had wanted the Big Butterfly. But then, TWO DAYS LATER, we received the following email from Bob: From: NECGABOBSM Bob Smith Sent: 04 October 2010 20:10 To: Glen and Stephen Subject: Items Bidding on in Whitley Auction Hi Glen: WHAT A SURPRSE! I thought for sure that Jackie had won it. The confusion came about as there was a 30 second delay between the phone bidding and the actual auction. I had gotten confused (as usual) and thought that Jackie had won before I had gotten my bid in for $12,000 Jan Seeck was on the other end of the phone and said the bid was won for $11,500 and until this afternoon and this email arrived did I know I won it. I feel like the King of the Hill! Bob. |
Imagine how overjoyed Bob must have been. For two entire days he had believed that he didn’t win the Big Butterfly. And typical of his generous spirit, he had been happy for Jackie (who he believed had actually been the high bidder). And then came the confirmation that he had indeed, secured the Big Butterfly tumbler.
Let’s leave the last word to Bob and his delightful sense of humour. Here’s how he described the arrival of the tumblers … they arrived “last Tuesday in perfect condition … in a 3 by 3 foot carton with enough bubble wrap and styrofoam to protect a piano”.
It's a great story!
Imagine how overjoyed Bob must have been. For two entire days he had believed that he didn’t win the Big Butterfly. And typical of his generous spirit, he had been happy for Jackie (who he believed had actually been the high bidder). And then came the confirmation that he had indeed, secured the Big Butterfly tumbler.
Let’s leave the last word to Bob and his delightful sense of humour. Here’s how he described the arrival of the tumblers … they arrived “last Tuesday in perfect condition … in a 3 by 3 foot carton with enough bubble wrap and styrofoam to protect a piano”.
It's a great story!
The iconic Big Butterfly tumbler is of course a rare tumbler, with just two colours being reported. There are several examples currently known in olive green and in marigold only two examples are currently known.
The tumbler stands approx. 3.75 inches high, and has a base diameter of 2.5 inches. Four butterflies are spaced evenly round the tumbler, against a stippled background. A twenty-four point star is on the base. A single example of the marigold pitcher is also known.
The tumbler stands approx. 3.75 inches high, and has a base diameter of 2.5 inches. Four butterflies are spaced evenly round the tumbler, against a stippled background. A twenty-four point star is on the base. A single example of the marigold pitcher is also known.
Big Butterfly in olive green and marigold
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This olive green Big Butterfly was in the Jim Seeck / Poucher auction at the Heart of America Carnival Glass Association convention in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Seeck auctions. |
Bob Smith says that this is his most favourite tumbler, and for quite some time, Bob’s marigold one was the first reported. Below, we present a selection of fascinating catalogue extracts for further study, which feature the Big Butterfly water pitcher (the tumbler is not shown).
Above: this image of the Butterfly pitcher appears on a page of Water Pitchers. We believe this is probably from the U.S.Glass 1914 catalogue.
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Above: extract from the 1904 United States Glass Company catalogue.
The Big Butterfly pitcher can be seen at the bottom left. |
Above: an undated image featuring a “Crystal Gem Assortment” which was clearly a grouping of U.S.Glass items.
Although the quality of the old ad is poor, the Big Butterfly pitcher is clearly shown top right.
Other known U.S.Glass patterns can be seen in the image, including pieces in both Wisconsin and Tennessee patterns.
Although the quality of the old ad is poor, the Big Butterfly pitcher is clearly shown top right.
Other known U.S.Glass patterns can be seen in the image, including pieces in both Wisconsin and Tennessee patterns.
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