Glen & Stephen Thistlewood
Carnival Glass Worldwide
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Millersburg's Masterly Back Patterns

Although the Millersburg factory was very short-lived (from the start of construction in September 1908 to closure in May 1912), they produced top-quality Carnival Glass that is highly sought after by Carnival and Millersburg glass collectors alike.

Their pieces are rightly known for the beauty of the interior patterns, they also designed some truly amazing exterior (back) patterns imitating cut glass. These patterns are brilliantly executed, true masterpieces of design and the exceptional skills of the mouldmaker. Remember that these patterns were cut on a curved metal mould, in "mirror image", so that the pattern elements that are raised up on the item of glass are cut into the mould, and vice versa - what an amazing skill!

The exterior patterns are also exceptionally difficult to photograph! However, thanks to Glen's brilliant artistic skill, her line drawings shown below reveal the exceptional talent of Millersburg's designers and their mould makers in capturing these wonderful patterns in glass. All drawings are by, and copyright of, Glen Thistlewood.

The exterior patterns were often used exclusively with specific interior patterns on Millersburg's 9 to 10 inch bowls. 

Cactus
Cactus
Cactus, exterior to
Rays and Ribbons, below (Seeck Auctions)
Rays and Ribbons


Fine Cut Heart
Fine Cut Heart
Fine Cut Heart, exterior to
Primrose, below
Primrose


Potpourri
Potpourri
Potpourri, exterior to
Millersburg Poppy, below, courtesy
Seeck Auctions

Picture


Hobnail

Picture
Hobnail, exterior to Vintage 
(below, Seeck Auctions) and Cherries
Picture
Country Kitchen
Country Kitchen
Country Kitchen, exterior to
Fleur de Lys, below
Fleur de Lis


Fine Cut Ovals
Fine Cut Ovals
Fine Cut Ovals, exterior to
Whirling Leaves, below (Seeck Auctions)
Picture


Trefoil Fine Cut
Trefoil Fine Cut
Trefoil Fine Cut, exterior to
Many Stars (below) and Bernheimer
​

Picture


Wide Panel
Picture
Wide Panel, exterior to various patterns
such as Blackberry Wreath (below)
Picture
Diamond and Fan
Diamond and Fan
Diamond and Fan, exterior to
Nesting Swan, below
Nesting Swan


Near Cut Wreath
Picture
Near Cut Wreath, exterior to
Holly Sprig (below) and Holly Whirl
Picture


Mayflower
Mayflower
Mayflower, exterior to
Millersburg Grape Leaves, below, courtesy Ann & Graham Sheldon
Grape Leaves

Millersburg also used some interesting variations in the central motifs on their Grape Wreath / Grape Wreath Variant patterns.
Picture


The four different central motifs found on Millersburg’s Grape Wreath and Grape Wreath Variants are:

Clockwise from top left

Eight point star motif (spider web)
Feathery leaf motif seen on the Grape Wreath;
Square & plume motif (star & bars)
Peacock eye & feather motif (also called clover & feather)
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