Revealing the Past: Enamelled Cherries and Little Flowers
Glen and Stephen Thistlewood ©2024
Fenton
Enamelled Cherries/Cherries & Little Flowers water set. Courtesy Burns Auctions. |
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You can see the dilemma right away when you view these sets as they look so similar; how can we spot the difference?
Read on, right through to the updated ending and solution, to discover the tricks.
Read on, right through to the updated ending and solution, to discover the tricks.
The research article below was one of the very first, in-depth pieces of carnival research we undertook. We wrote it in February 1993 and it was published in the Texas Carnival Glass Club Newsletter and a UK Carnival newsletter in April 1993. Our findings, despite being based on a small sample, proved to be remarkably correct, and indeed, others copied our research findings over the ensuing years (without acknowledging our work).
You can read our entire article from 1993 below, with just a few additions/corrections added for clarity. At the end of the original article, you can read our Comments and our Quick & Easy Solution.
You can read our entire article from 1993 below, with just a few additions/corrections added for clarity. At the end of the original article, you can read our Comments and our Quick & Easy Solution.
Life’s a Bowl of Cherries
Glen and Stephen Thistlewood ©Feb 1993, published April 1993. With thanks to Janet & Alan Mollison for their help.
Glen and Stephen Thistlewood ©Feb 1993, published April 1993. With thanks to Janet & Alan Mollison for their help.
We like a challenge … and attempting to collect enamelled Carnival Glass whilst residing in the UK is certainly that! It appears that very little enamelled Carnival was originally exported here from the USA at the time of its manufacture, judging by the lack of availability in antique fairs and shops.
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Enamelled glass tableware was a fashionable item in the USA during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the later period coinciding with the arrival of mass produced iridescent glass. It seems likely that the combination of the two artistic techniques, in the form of moulded and iridised glass with enamelled decoration was, therefore, early in the chronological history of decorated styles. For some reason, there seems to have been little exported to the UK from the USA: perhaps manufacture could only keep up with the demands of the home market in the USA, or perhaps the quantities made were not all that great. It is also possible that the risk of breakage on a long sea voyage was too great, given the relative fragility of, for example, the blown glass pitchers. Whatever, enamelled Carnival is difficult to find in the UK and most of our collection has been assembled through fellow collectors in the USA, or from our many visits to that country. One particular problem has troubled us – that is the enamelled “Cherry” patterns and the variants that seem to abound. Published literature varies and is inconsistent in its attribution to Northwood or Fenton. Some enamelled “Cherry” tumblers have an “N” in the base, but many do not, and it seems difficult to satisfactorily match tumblers with their originally intended pitchers. And, naturally over time, "sets" have been put together from individual purchases, so that the resulting set could easily be a mixture of Fenton and Northwood items. Which immediately raises the question ... |
Butler Bros 1906 catalogue featured many decorated/ enamelled
glass items, such as these (non-iridised) pitchers and tumblers. |
How to tell Fenton from Northwood “Cherry” patterns.
Indeed, is there a difference? Piecing the puzzle together became much easier as we acquired or examined more examples, the latest pieces slotting in when fellow Carnival collectors Janet and Alan Mollison visited us with their collection of several “Cherry” pieces. Here are our findings.
We have compared three different enamelled Cherry / Cherry and Little Flowers pitchers, all in cobalt blue Carnival Glass, which are referenced as "A", "B" and "C" in the table below. None of them have the “N” mark.
Indeed, is there a difference? Piecing the puzzle together became much easier as we acquired or examined more examples, the latest pieces slotting in when fellow Carnival collectors Janet and Alan Mollison visited us with their collection of several “Cherry” pieces. Here are our findings.
We have compared three different enamelled Cherry / Cherry and Little Flowers pitchers, all in cobalt blue Carnival Glass, which are referenced as "A", "B" and "C" in the table below. None of them have the “N” mark.
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Pitcher details:
MOULD TYPE
MOULD PATTERN HEIGHT BASE DIAMETER EXTERIOR PATTERN |
Pitcher "A"
2 Part Smooth exterior Drape interior 10" 4" 5 cherries 9 little flowers |
Pitcher "B"
2 Part Smooth exterior Smooth interior 10" 4" 5 cherries 9 little flowers |
Pitcher "C"
4 Part Smooth exterior 15 interior panels 10¼” 4¼” 5 cherries 11 little flowers |
Whilst they are all similar in size and overall appearance, there are significant differences: the most obvious is that "A" and "B" have been made from 2-part moulds (the mould lines follow the vertical lines of the handle and of the pouring lip), whereas "C" is from a 4-part mould, having 2 further mould lines at 90 degrees to the handle and top mould lines. All three have different moulded interiors. Additionally in the enamelled decoration on pitcher "C", there are two extra flowers surrounding the central cherry cluster (note this was observed on only a very small sample, so we cannot assume this goes for all pitchers).
Now for the detective work: pitcher "C" is very similar to another enamelled pitcher – Enamelled Daisy and Little Flowers – in that both have a central motif surrounded by 11 little flowers, both are made from a 4-part mould, and also have a panelled interior moulded pattern. The Enamelled Daisy and Little Flowers tumbler is a distinctive shape – tapered with rounded sides and a panelled interior – and it has been confirmed with the “N” mark (ref: page 16 of “Northwood: The Wheeling Years”). Furthermore, it is identical in shape to another tumbler also found “N” marked, namely Ground Cherries, also referred to in “Northwood : The Wheeling Years”.
It would therefore be reasonable to conclude that the 4-part mould and design of 11 flowers surrounding the central motif are Northwood characteristics.
This leaves us to assume that the 2-part mould and 9 surrounding flowers could be a Fenton version. In support of this, the drape interior moulding of the pitcher "A" is the same as the enamelled pitcher Magnolia and Drape, which is a documented Fenton piece.
NOTE: further study of more pitchers over the ensuing years has shown us that the number of flowers around the central cherry cluster on the pitchers, varies, and is not to be relied on for maker attribution. However, the differences that we originally observed in the mould seams and in the internal patterns hold true - they are very important and are the key characteristics that determine the makers of the Cherries and Little Flowers pitchers.
Northwood Cherry and Little Flowers Pitcher has four mould seams (was made from a 4-part mould) and may possibly have a panelled interior (15 panels).
Fenton Cherry and Little Flowers Pitcher has two mould seams (was made from a 2-part mould) and may possibly have a drapery or plain interior.
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Now to the tumblers!
The decoration on the Cherry and Little Flowers tumblers varies considerably – in some cases the cherries can be painted bright red, others show brownish enamel on top of the straight-sided taper with a top diameter of about 2¾” - 2⅜”. The bases are slightly domed up in the centre with the rim ground so that they sit level. The design on all these cherry tumblers is basically similar – 3 cherries on a single sprig, with 3 leaves at the top as shown in sketch 1, right. When we began to consider the tumblers we did not have one with an “N” mark, so we initially attempted to identify the maker by matching tumblers to pitchers on the style and colouring of the enamelling. The very distinctive browny red lowlights on the cherries on some of our tumblers match up perfectly with the pitcher we are suggesting is Northwood (due to having a 4-part mould), whilst the others have stylistic similarities with the pitcher we think is Fenton. Fortunately, the Mollisons then came up with an “N” marked tumbler which we could include in the comparisons. We then realised a difference that was so noticeable it was literally staring us in the face. |
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The tumblers with the enamel decoration that stylistically matches the Fenton pitcher, all have 2 little leaves emerging from the bottom (central) cherry of the cluster. The tumblers with decoration that matches the Northwood pitcher have 3 separate leaves emerging from each of the 3 separate cherries in the cluster. The tumbler that is N marked is one of these.
The sketches show this clearly (sketches 2 and 3 below).
The sketches show this clearly (sketches 2 and 3 below).
FENTON
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NORTHWOOD
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To summarise both pitchers and tumblers:
NORTHWOOD
Pitchers: 4-part mould, panelled interior (perhaps also a smooth interior version).
Tumblers: cherry decoration has 3 separate leaves coming from 3 separate cherries. Possible N mark.
FENTON
Pitchers: 2-part mould, drapery or smooth interior.
Tumblers: cherry decoration has 2 (sometimes 3) leaves coming from one single, central cherry.
Variation is intrinsic in the very nature of had painted designs that are mass-produced, however it does seem that these broad distinctions between Fenton and Northwood can be drawn.
A further point of interest is that our friends the Mollisons report that the five tumblers in their part set of Northwood’s Cherry seem to have a single moulded number on their bases. These numbers are tiny but they can make out a ‘1’ a ‘2’ and a ‘5’. We set about checking our Cherries tumblers and indeed found two Northwood style ones (‘1’ and ‘5’). These numbers are correctly viewed from the inside – when held to the light – they are moulded in reverse relief on the base of the tumbler. We wondered what they could be for and we note that in “Northwood The Wheeling Years” (Heacock, Measell, Wiggins) there is a reference to some crystal and transparent tumblers having a letter (E,F.G.H.O or P) on the inside of the bottom. It is suggested that they may have been to keep track of each individual workshop’s output. Could ours be the same?
G&S Thistlewood, February 1993.
NORTHWOOD
Pitchers: 4-part mould, panelled interior (perhaps also a smooth interior version).
Tumblers: cherry decoration has 3 separate leaves coming from 3 separate cherries. Possible N mark.
FENTON
Pitchers: 2-part mould, drapery or smooth interior.
Tumblers: cherry decoration has 2 (sometimes 3) leaves coming from one single, central cherry.
Variation is intrinsic in the very nature of had painted designs that are mass-produced, however it does seem that these broad distinctions between Fenton and Northwood can be drawn.
A further point of interest is that our friends the Mollisons report that the five tumblers in their part set of Northwood’s Cherry seem to have a single moulded number on their bases. These numbers are tiny but they can make out a ‘1’ a ‘2’ and a ‘5’. We set about checking our Cherries tumblers and indeed found two Northwood style ones (‘1’ and ‘5’). These numbers are correctly viewed from the inside – when held to the light – they are moulded in reverse relief on the base of the tumbler. We wondered what they could be for and we note that in “Northwood The Wheeling Years” (Heacock, Measell, Wiggins) there is a reference to some crystal and transparent tumblers having a letter (E,F.G.H.O or P) on the inside of the bottom. It is suggested that they may have been to keep track of each individual workshop’s output. Could ours be the same?
G&S Thistlewood, February 1993.
Comments (added 2024)
It is important to remember that although the decorators would have worked to a rough template, there were undoubtedly variations made to the painted designs. A little too much space needed to be filled perhaps (add another daisy), an excess of paint left (add a few more daisies) or maybe not enough paint (lose a daisy). And of course, the items needed to be decorated quickly, before a brief re-firing (to fix the enamel) so speed was of the essence; remember, this was mass-produced glass.
The Quick and Easy Solution (added 2024, fully based on our 1993 research article and findings).
So, are there any quick, simple and easy ways to tell which pitcher and which tumbler was made by Fenton or Northwood?
Yes! It’s easy.
Tumbler: if there are two leaves emerging from one single central cherry – it’s Fenton. If there are three individual leaves emerging from all three cherries – it’s Northwood.
Pitcher: if there are two mould seams – it’s Fenton. If there are four mould seams – it’s Northwood. Extra clarification: drapery or plain interior, likely Fenton, panelled interior, likely Northwood.
It is important to remember that although the decorators would have worked to a rough template, there were undoubtedly variations made to the painted designs. A little too much space needed to be filled perhaps (add another daisy), an excess of paint left (add a few more daisies) or maybe not enough paint (lose a daisy). And of course, the items needed to be decorated quickly, before a brief re-firing (to fix the enamel) so speed was of the essence; remember, this was mass-produced glass.
The Quick and Easy Solution (added 2024, fully based on our 1993 research article and findings).
So, are there any quick, simple and easy ways to tell which pitcher and which tumbler was made by Fenton or Northwood?
Yes! It’s easy.
Tumbler: if there are two leaves emerging from one single central cherry – it’s Fenton. If there are three individual leaves emerging from all three cherries – it’s Northwood.
Pitcher: if there are two mould seams – it’s Fenton. If there are four mould seams – it’s Northwood. Extra clarification: drapery or plain interior, likely Fenton, panelled interior, likely Northwood.