Collectors Facts - Lucile, made by Cristalerias Papini, Argentina
Lucile water pitcher, blue
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Cristalerias Papini catalogue which dates from 1933
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Lucile is known in Carnival in the pitcher shape, known in blue only, and also the tumbler shape in blue and (scarcer) in marigold.
As early as 1996, in our early (printed) NetworK journal #12, we began our research into the Lucile pattern. Various sources had previously pointed toward Brockwitz as the maker, but we felt that was not correct.
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We hunted further and our research revealed the pattern. Amazingly, it was an early line from Indiana Glass Co. Dunkirk, IN and was originally known as “Prosperity” (aka Ferris Wheel). In 1996 we showed this 1909 Butler Brothers’ catalogue image of the Indiana “Prosperity” line featuring the pitcher and tumbler that Carnival collectors then knew as Lucile. It's important to note that the ad referred to all these pieces being made in"Bright crystal" that was "decorated in ruby with emerald green and canary color outlines ... attained by cold colors" This was not Carnival, and in fact, we have found no evidence that Indiana made this pattern in Carnival. We followed up our discovery and talked to the historian at Indiana Glass in 1996 (they were still in operation at that time, but have since closed, in around 2002) who told us that Indiana had sold moulds to glass companies in Argentina possibly in the 1920s or 30s. The picture became clearer … could it be that Lucile was actually made in Carnival in Argentina! Our research and observations continued for over 20 years. And then … eureka … in 2018 we found the proof in a previously unseen catalogue from Cristalerias Papini, which dates from 1933. Here, in this fascinating catalogue is proof that they made Lucile. The images are low resolution, but the pattern identification is clear- it is Lucile. The tumbler shown here is in blue, courtesy of Seeck Auctions. There may be some slight differences in the pattern, and it’s possible that Papini slightly altered the original Indiana design. |
Butler Brothers 1909 wholesale catalogue showing "Prosperity"
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Above: the Cristalerias Papini glassworks in 1933
Below: the cover of the 1933 catalogue 
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Lucile tumblers in blue (above) and marigold.
Courtesy of Seeck Auctions 
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On the cover of the catalogue shown above, is something interesting, that also answers a previous puzzle.
Look at the title: Papini Hermanos – Papini Brothers. Below it are the letters NCP, standing for Nuevas Cristalerias Papini – the New Papini Glassworks, which answers a long-standing mystery. Several Carnival tumblers are known with the moulded letters NCP on the base. We have often wondered what it stood for, and now we know!
Look at the title: Papini Hermanos – Papini Brothers. Below it are the letters NCP, standing for Nuevas Cristalerias Papini – the New Papini Glassworks, which answers a long-standing mystery. Several Carnival tumblers are known with the moulded letters NCP on the base. We have often wondered what it stood for, and now we know!
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