Butter Dishes from Brazil - Part One
With grateful thanks to Cláudio Deveikis and Álvaro Henrique Nicolau Aguiar for their ongoing research into Carnival Glass from Brazil, and for their photographs shown in this article. There is more to see on Cláudio’s excellent website.
Carnival Glass was not only produced worldwide, it is also collected and studied worldwide. This fascinating array of butter dishes, courtesy of Álvaro Nicolau, both tantalises and intrigues. Some have a familiar look to them while others are mysterious and rather exotic.
Brazil has long had strong ties with Europe, both in terms of trade as well as immigration and settlement - links not only with Poland (as in our article on Garland and Bows) but also Germany and other countries. Looking closely at some of the butter dishes featured here it is possible to see not only influences in design, but also perhaps some suggestion of mould acquisition. Perhaps too, glass craftsmen from parts of Europe settled in Brazil, bringing their skills and ideas.
Brazil has long had strong ties with Europe, both in terms of trade as well as immigration and settlement - links not only with Poland (as in our article on Garland and Bows) but also Germany and other countries. Looking closely at some of the butter dishes featured here it is possible to see not only influences in design, but also perhaps some suggestion of mould acquisition. Perhaps too, glass craftsmen from parts of Europe settled in Brazil, bringing their skills and ideas.
Some of the patterns on these butter dishes, however, are distinctly different and very beautiful, suggesting that they were created and produced in Brazil. Let’s take a look at these delightful pieces …
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Clambering Pearl
This exquisitely lovely pattern has been previously reported by Cláudio in the footed dish shape (South American Mysteries) but here we have a gloriously unusual footed, covered butter. 
Clambering Pearl
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Teardrop
This butter, with its elongated finial, is the same pattern as that seen on a covered comport (or sugar) and low cake plate (salver). Cláudio reports the maker as probably Esberard first and then later Guarani. There are more details in our Collectors Facts page on this pattern. 
Teardrop
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Eye of the Queen
This is another pattern that Cláudio has reported previously, with information that it may indeed have been made by Guarani in Brazil.
Of particular interest here is that there are two very different butter dish shapes in this pattern.
There are more details of Eye of the Queen in our Collectors Facts page on this pattern.
This is another pattern that Cláudio has reported previously, with information that it may indeed have been made by Guarani in Brazil.
Of particular interest here is that there are two very different butter dish shapes in this pattern.
There are more details of Eye of the Queen in our Collectors Facts page on this pattern.
Eye of the Queen (aka Eye in the Sky)
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Eye of the Queen
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Cabouchon aka Cabochão
Cláudio reports that this splendid butter was found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where one or two others have also been found (another was found in Santelmo, Argentina). Álvaro Nicolau notes that one of the butter dishes he found in this pattern was wrapped in a newspaper that was dated 1932, which suggests a time frame. The picture below, right, shows the inside of the lid and the exterior base of the dish.
Cláudio reports that this splendid butter was found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where one or two others have also been found (another was found in Santelmo, Argentina). Álvaro Nicolau notes that one of the butter dishes he found in this pattern was wrapped in a newspaper that was dated 1932, which suggests a time frame. The picture below, right, shows the inside of the lid and the exterior base of the dish.
Cabouchon aka Cabochão
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Cabouchon aka Cabochão
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Little Rosary
The large finial on this Little Rosary butter reflects the ribbed and beaded design. The maker is most likely to be Esberard, as Claudio reports an uniridised example with ESBERARD moulded on it. The Little Rosary pattern was possibly inspired by a Marinha Grande design from 1901, and we also know of other pattern "links" between Marinha Grande and Esberard, for example Cabralia and Iraci designs (both are shown in our Collectors Facts).
The large finial on this Little Rosary butter reflects the ribbed and beaded design. The maker is most likely to be Esberard, as Claudio reports an uniridised example with ESBERARD moulded on it. The Little Rosary pattern was possibly inspired by a Marinha Grande design from 1901, and we also know of other pattern "links" between Marinha Grande and Esberard, for example Cabralia and Iraci designs (both are shown in our Collectors Facts).
Little Rosary
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Little Rosary (underside of base)
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