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Collectors Facts - Drapery Variant, Josef Inwald

Drapery Variant
Inwald Catalogue image
Shapes:

Pitcher
Tumbler / shot - 4 sizes
Bowl, plate, wine, decanter
Pedestal footed vase
Colours:

Marigold
Marigold; Azurit Irisé (see below)
Marigold
Marigold (see below)
 

Until around 2005, Drapery Variant was considered to be made by Riihimaki, because an image of one appears in a Riihimaki catalogue.

However, although we were not convinced, we did not have the absolute proof of the maker.

Then in 2005, some Markhbeinn catalogues surfaced. Markhbeinn was a glass wholesaler and distributer, not a glass maker. In these catalogues, we see a range of shapes in the Drapery Variant pattern, alongside known Inwald patterns such as Jacobean, Nola and Double Diamond. The Markhbeinn inventory of Inwald items shows a wide range of Drapery Variant shapes, but the best thing of all is that they list them in irisé (iridised - that is, Carnival).

Eureka! We had the proof that Drapery Variant was made in Carnival by Josef Inwald of Czechoslovakia. It was originally called "Lido". 

Read the full story in this article.

UPDATE (2015) - an amazing vase.

Drapery Variant
Drapery Variant vase with the amazing marigold iridescence that is an Inwald "signature".
Photo courtesy of Richard Fenton.


This unusual vase came to us for identification, and we immediately thought that it had that strong "Josef Inwald look" about it. 

Markhbeinn catalogue
1928 Markhbeinn catalogue


After searching our European Carnival catalogues, sure enough we found it in the Markhbeinn 1928 catalogue that shows Inwald's glass. 


The vase has the number 9043, which puts it in the right time frame and number series for the rest of the Inwald Drapery Variant pieces. 

It is listed as "Beau Vase ovale", but clearly it is pedestal footed.

UPDATE (2014) - and not just marigold!

We now know of two Drapery tumblers in an unusual colour finish (see below), but surely Inwald "only made marigold"? Not so - we now have the proof that Inwald made other Carnival colours - probably in small amounts as very little has turned up - a pale blue referred to as "Azurit Irisé", and a light pinkish-amethyst. Read more about this exciting new discovery here.

Drapery Variant tumblers
Catalogue image
Four sizes of tumbler / shot glass are known in Carnival (as shown in the catalogue on the right). The two tumblers in the centre of the picture on the left are the first reported in pale blue Carnival (second from the left) and (to its right) pinkish-amethyst Carnival. Photo courtesy of Bob Smith.

See more Collectors Facts
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