Collectors Facts - Gardestern, Brockwitz

Shapes:

Tumbler

Colours:

Marigold

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This exquisite marigold tumbler is the first reported Carnival Glass example in Brockwitz’ Gardestern pattern. 

It stands just a shade under 3” high (precisely 8.7 cm) and measures approx. 1 ¾” across the base (about 4.2 cm). Without a doubt, the most striking feature of the tumbler is the pattern, which was named Gardestern by Brockwitz and was produced in a suite of shapes that are illustrated in their 1915 Musterbuch (catalogue).

The pattern is a finely detailed, superbly crafted geometric, featuring a massive star which has a raised file “button” centre, a raised diamond outer section and long, incised rays forming a starburst effect. Stretching out from the star in both vertical and horizontal directions are bands comprised of close lines giving a ribbon effect.  There are three massive stars on the tumbler, joined by the horizontal, encircling bands.

But this pattern had meaning! Look at the name given to it by Brockwitz: Gardestern. To find the source of the design inspiration we need to look to militaria – the Gardestern was the star on the helmets of the Prussian Guard. The Gardestern range of glass was only illustrated in the Brockwitz 1915 catalogue. It does not appear in any later catalogues that we have studied. Almost certainly this tumbler was made in Carnival in or even just before, 1915. We know that Brockwitz were making Carnival at this time as there are references in their 1915 catalogue to items being made in "Goldiris" (marigold Carnival), “Lüsterdekor" (iridised) and "m. eingebranntem” (fired on iridescence) - read more about this Brockwitz Revelation here.
 
The 1915 Brockwitz catalogue illustrations show bowls, plates and a tumble-up as well as the stand alone tumbler itself. The catalogue extracts are courtesy of Dieter Neumann and Siegmar Geiselberger.

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