NetworK ezine Issue 25. June 2017
Totally Devoted to Carnival Glass
A warm welcome to this issue which marks our second anniversary of free Carnival NetworK ezines.
Amazingly, it is also twenty three years since we launched our original (printed) NetworK Journal on Carnival Glass … how time flies We’ve also welcomed many new members to our Carnival NetworK Facebook group, which is now approaching 2000 members and is extremely active; with friendly discussions, IDs and a constant stream of beautiful images of Carnival from which we are all learning and benefiting. The Glass of Many Names Back in the early days, Carnival Glass was known by all sorts of names, including "Pompeiian Iridescent", “Slum Glass” and “Poor Man’s Tiffany”. One interesting name for it was “Baking Powder Glass” on account of the many premiums and give-aways that included a free piece of Carnival when the customer bought a tin of baking powder. In the splendid 1910 ad shown on the right, the customer would have received a large Dugan Ski Star bowl FREE when they purchased a large can of baking powder. Note the bowl was called “Iris” – a term that was also used to describe marigold Carnival. In fact this piece was almost certainly peach opal (as shown in the photo, right). How do we know that? Well, Dugan’s Ski Star was made in two main colours, purple and peach opal. So the reference to “Iris” (which infers golden) was almost certainly the peach opal. Did you know that around 100 different names have been given to Carnival Glass over the years! It is fortunate indeed that "Carnival Glass" has become the generally accepted, and wonderfully evocative name - infinitely preferable to "poison glass" or "oil glass". Right: Dugan's Ski Star bowl, courtesy of Burns Auctions. |
How did the name Carnival Glass come about, and why did this name stick? Read All About it here: Whats in a name
Are you intrigued by the association with Baking Powder? There are some amazing early ads here: Baking Powder Glass
Are you intrigued by the association with Baking Powder? There are some amazing early ads here: Baking Powder Glass
Tusens … what now?
Tusenskona! That’s the name that the Swedish Carnival collectors gave to the pattern that English speakers know as Floral Sunburst or Daisy Spray. Made by Eda Glasbruk in Sweden c. 1925, this beautiful pattern is known in Eda’s characteristic Carnival colours of blue, marigold and some rare shades of pink, purple and pearl. |
We always assumed the pattern was a Swedish design, so imagine our surprise when we saw it in a Westmoreland catalogue from 1917, where it was called “Floral Colonial”. The design was patented in December 1910 by Reuben Haley who was described as “assignor to Westmoreland Specialty Company of Grapeville, Pennsylvania”. So, it looks like Eda copied the Westmoreland design, even down to using the same style of Colonial handles on the sugar! There are small differences in the interpretation of the design and form, but overall the look and feel is the same. Eda’s Glasbruk’s Floral Sunburst vase (shown on the right) seems to have been a progression of the previous Westmoreland pattern. On the later Eda Floral Sunburst vase, for example, you can see how the original, basic Westmoreland design became more complex and intricate, covering the shape more. The earlier Westmoreland vase was very different. Want to know more about Eda's wonderful Carnival Glass? Go here: Eda Glasbruk homepage. |
Above: Eda’s Floral Sunburst vase (in blue) on the left,
alongside the earlier Westmoreland design. |
Moonprint: Just add a “Fancy Bronze Animal”
Brockwitz Moonprint pattern was originally called Globus. It is a collectors’ favourite that (so far) is only known in marigold Carnival. It was introduced in the 1920s and can be found in a wide variety of shapes, some of which (like the two piece covered bonbonniere shown here) are really rather unusual. On the far right is an extract from the 1926 Brockwitz catalogue. |
We were amazed - and very amused! - when we discovered the ad (shown on the right) in a 1926 Sydney, Australia newspaper. The ad shows “powder bowls” with “fancy bronze animal handles”, above the “prophylactic Tooth Brush”. There’s no doubt that they are Brockwitz Moonprint bonbonnieres (powder jars) which were produced in four sizes, as the Brockwitz catalogue shows. It looks like an enterprising vendor added stuck-on novelty animals to give them extra appeal. Although the items in the ad aren’t described as iridescent, it’s entirely possible that they were also sold in marigold Carnival Glass. Maybe someone out there has one? Moonprint, with its wide variety of shapes is a very popular and collectable Carnival Glass pattern. It is featured in our unique Collectors Facts series: Moonprint |
Mmmmm...? Cake!
As it’s the second anniversary of our NetworK ezine, what better way to celebrate than with more cake! Because Carnival Glass was often called Baking Powder Glass (see the first feature above) it is even more fitting to consider how well cakes and Carnival go together.
The ad illustrated below is from Butler Brothers' Mid-Spring, 1911 edition and shows a "Cake Plate Set" featuring two Dugan patterns. The sets were made up of a large 11 inch cake plate (also known as a Chop Plate, see March NetworK #22 for more on Chop plates) on which a magnificent cake would have been proudly displayed – plus six individual serving plates (6 – 7 inches wide).
As it’s the second anniversary of our NetworK ezine, what better way to celebrate than with more cake! Because Carnival Glass was often called Baking Powder Glass (see the first feature above) it is even more fitting to consider how well cakes and Carnival go together.
The ad illustrated below is from Butler Brothers' Mid-Spring, 1911 edition and shows a "Cake Plate Set" featuring two Dugan patterns. The sets were made up of a large 11 inch cake plate (also known as a Chop Plate, see March NetworK #22 for more on Chop plates) on which a magnificent cake would have been proudly displayed – plus six individual serving plates (6 – 7 inches wide).
In Europe, large Carnival plates could have been used as platters for cakes, but more often a stemmed plate (cake stand) was used. These had the advantage of raising the cake above the table, proudly displaying it for everyone’s delectation. The cake stands were sometimes made in varying sizes and heights, to suit all kinds of confectionery. On the right are shown three magnificent marigold cake stands made by Brockwitz: they are (left to right) Asters, Tartan, and Diamond Ovals and Beads. |
Summer Days!
Here is a fruity Carnival display to welcome in the summer season here in the northern hemisphere (whilst our friends south of the equator are heading into their winter season). Yes ... the strawberries were truly delicious!
Here is a fruity Carnival display to welcome in the summer season here in the northern hemisphere (whilst our friends south of the equator are heading into their winter season). Yes ... the strawberries were truly delicious!
At the back of the display is a green Millersburg Hanging Cherries ice cream shaped bowl with satin iridescence.
In front are four tumblers - from left to right: a blue Apple Tree and a blue Blueberry (both Fenton);
a green Hanging Cherries (Millersburg); a blue Peach (Northwood).
In front are four tumblers - from left to right: a blue Apple Tree and a blue Blueberry (both Fenton);
a green Hanging Cherries (Millersburg); a blue Peach (Northwood).
NetworK Specials
We hope you enjoyed your recent NetworK Sowerby Special – a pocket guide to the essential need-to-know facts about the Sowerby factory on Tyneside. This was the start of a series, and we aim to bring you more of these glass factory pocket guides from time to time. Look out for the next one soon!
We hope you enjoyed your recent NetworK Sowerby Special – a pocket guide to the essential need-to-know facts about the Sowerby factory on Tyneside. This was the start of a series, and we aim to bring you more of these glass factory pocket guides from time to time. Look out for the next one soon!
We invite you and your friends to join us all on NetworK's fast growing and very active Facebook Group - Carnival Glass NetworK. If you have missed any of the previous issues of NetworK and NetworK Specials, they are all on our Back Issues page.