Lined Lattice vases, by Joan Doty
Copyright Joan Doty, G&S Thistlewood and T Fuhrman
Lined Lattice is a wonderfully pleasing little vase where the pattern is the vase – the bottom ring of lattices projects out, or sometimes down, to form the little feet, and the top ring of lattices becomes the nine flames. The pattern predates the carnival era, having been produced by Northwood in opalescent, non-iridised glass and called “Palisades” (produced at the Indiana , PA factory, which was to become the Dugan Glass Co, in 1904). These opalescent pieces have a wide variety of elaborately shaped tops – but none of them were swung. It’s easy to understand why they weren’t – there is no collar base on which to clamp the snap for swinging. Obviously Dugan devised some method of swinging the iridescent vases, for they are found anywhere from 4¾” to 16” tall. Many shades of amethyst, from pale amethyst all the way through black amethyst, white, marigold and peach opalescent are the usual colours. The opalescence in the short peach opals is sometimes quite heavy, extending all the way to the base in the thicker areas of the pattern. Rich peach iridescence showing through from the interior produces a dramatic little vase - as seen on the squatty vase on the left. |
Inexplicably, there were three entirely different moulds for these vases.
One, with triangular feet (the peach opal vase above), has the mould seam through the centres of three of the nine feet. The lattice feet often project down so that the vase rests just on the points of the feet. Another mould (far left) also with triangular feet, has the three mould seams between the feet. The lattice feet project out more so that the vase rests more solidly on the flat underside of the feet. Another mould, requiring its own exclusive marie, has rectangular feet (centre left). |
These rectangular feet are similar to the ones on Dugan’s Grape Delight rose bowls, although Grape Delight has six feet and Lined Lattice nine. These vases with rectangular feet, sometimes referred to as square toes, are larger, heavier vases than the smaller, more delicate, triangular feet vases. It is unusual to see a Lined Lattice with triangular feet taller than about 12”, but it is these larger square toed vases that are usually found in the 11” to 16” height range – when they are found at all. If one should happen to be found, it will most likely have chipped feet. Amethyst seems to be their usual colour, sometimes with spectacular blue iridescence, and an occasional marigold.
The base diameter ranges between 3" and 3¾", depending on the type of feet and how far up on pointe the vase stands. Mrs. Hartung (Book III-20) was the one who named the Carnival pattern Lined Lattice.
Occasionally you will see a short flared Lined Lattice vase perched upside down on top of the Princess lamp base. I’m convinced that this was not a marriage created at the factory. Original ads for this lamp show a cloth shade. An opaque glass shape, closed at the top, seems to defeat the purpose of a lamp. The few found in peach opalescent aren’t quite as opaque, but they are closed at the top. The vase has to be deliberately damaged to accommodate the bulb frame, and each vase seems to have been damaged differently. Besides, Dugan-Diamond made the vase, the Princess Lamp was made by US Glass.
As with all Carnival patterns, anomalies in colour or shape will suddenly appear. A Lined lattice vase with a pale smoked amber base glass was shown recently; a blue one is rumoured; top edges have been subjected to the glassmaker’s whimsy. One never knows what delightful treasure awaits around the next corner.
As with all Carnival patterns, anomalies in colour or shape will suddenly appear. A Lined lattice vase with a pale smoked amber base glass was shown recently; a blue one is rumoured; top edges have been subjected to the glassmaker’s whimsy. One never knows what delightful treasure awaits around the next corner.
The splendid photo below is of the actual Dugan Lined Lattice vase mould and plunger. The photo is shown here courtesy and copyright Tom Fuhrman of Fuhrman Glass Studios. See more photos of this amazing mould, in greater detail. |