NetworK ezine Issue 50. July 2019
Totally Devoted to Carnival Glass
This issue is our Golden one – our 50th since we began the free ezine in June 2015 (plus the nine “Special Issues” that we have also released). But there’s more – it’s also our Silver Anniversary! We often get asked how NetworK came about: in fact it all began way back in 1994 - 25 years ago - when we published the very first issue of our printed NetworK journal. So, you see, we have gold and silver reasons to celebrate with this landmark issue. |
We thought that this was the perfect time to write our "NetworK autobiography" to record some of the milestones along the way, and recognise the friends, collectors and researchers who have been with us on our Carnival Glass journey.
This is a chock-a-block issue too, the biggest we have published, packed full of information and with links to some of our most extensive, “must read” (maybe even a tad controversial) new and exciting feature articles on our website.
This is a chock-a-block issue too, the biggest we have published, packed full of information and with links to some of our most extensive, “must read” (maybe even a tad controversial) new and exciting feature articles on our website.
We thought that this was the perfect time to write our "NetworK autobiography" to record some of the milestones along the way, and recognise the friends, collectors and researchers who have been with us on our Carnival Glass journey.
This is a chock-a-block issue too, the biggest we have published, packed full of information and with links to some of our most extensive, “must read” (maybe even a tad controversial) new and exciting feature articles on our website. * Did you know that we popularised the detailed study of pattern motifs (birds, fruits, flowers, buildings etc) as a way of looking afresh at Carnival Glass? * Did you know that we worked with a professional film company and released the first of two Carnival Glass videos in 1996, that we called “Hooked on Carnival”? Our videos were associated with our NetworK journals, and were sold worldwide. On the immediate right is the cover of our original “Hooked on Carnival” video in 1996. * Did you know that we pioneered the use of the term “Classic Carnival Glass”? |
* Find out how Bob Smith lived … and died … for his tumblers * Discover how a broken ankle figured in the NetworK story? On the far right (above) is the cover of NetworK 29 from 2001 which featured vases. The two outside vases are Brockwitz Curved Star in blue and marigold, and the two middle ones are Eda Glasbruk’s Dagny vases, also in blue and marigold. Northwood Carnival featured on the back of NetworK 25 in 2000 - see right. On the top row are, left to right: purple Town Pump, aqua opal Daisy and Drape vase, purple Corn Vase. On the bottom row, left to right: aqua opal Diamond Point vase, aqua opal Acorn Burrs punch bowl and base, and another Diamond Point vase which is in Persian Blue! In the front are 2 Waterlily footed sauces in Vaseline opal (left), and reverse amberina opal. We took the photo of the pieces shown on the bottom row in the home of Eleanor and the late Charles Mochel. The Mochels told us that the Diamond Points vase on the right was “thought to be the only such vase reported in Persian Blue, which is normally a colour associated with Fenton. The base glass has an opaque blue effect”. In the foreground are two Waterlily footed sauces by Fenton. The story is wide ranging, often eye-opening and always entertaining. Don't miss our "Look Behind the Scenes over 25 Years". Here is the link: “Carnival Glass Network – The Story Behind the Stories” |
A Small Country Store with a Big Story
We are indebted to Sam Miller for this amazing photograph of his great grandparents’ store near Wagersville, Kentucky. So much is captured in this unique image – so representative of its era – the clothes, the hairstyles, the fascinating ads on the store frontage and the amazing building itself. But the story we reveal here, courtesy of Sam, is one that will fascinate all our readers … Carnival Glass was sold there! Let’s allow Sam to explain further in his own words: “members of the extended family have several pieces of Carnival Glass that were sold in the store during the Classic era. I have examples of Fenton Butterfly & Berry, Imperial Fashion and Fenton vases that were given as Christmas presents”. This is Sam’s Imperial Fashion bowl that was originally owned
by his great grandmother. Photo courtesy Sam Miller. Right: the actual Butterfly and Berry water set that was purchased at Sam’s great grandmother’s store almost a century ago. Photo courtesy Sam Miller. You can read the full story of this remarkable country store and see more amazing, large size photos of the actual glass that was purchased there, on our website.
We are indebted to Sam Miller for the wonderful story and the splendid photos in this feature, here: A Small Country Store with a Big Story |
A small country store back in 1915: the proud owners and
their family are grouped together outside. |
Footnote: If you look closely at the ads on the store front, you can see one for Arbuckles Coffee and another for Old Kentucky Plug Tobacco. If you can’t make them out clearly on the photo above, then just click through to see the photo in a much larger image in the article on our website. It’s interesting to note that Arbuckles Coffee was a leading exponent of coupon clipping and premium give-aways.
One aspect of Carnival Glass that we are especially interested in, is how the glass was promoted, market and sold to customers at the time it was being made. We have an ever-growing section of our website devoted to this, where we delve into contemporaneous sources, such a catalogues, newspaper ads, and sales promotions. The homepage for all these articles is here: "Sell it to me!"
Imperial’s “Octagon” – The Story Behind the Glass.
Well, there’s a surprise! Carnival Glass collectors are very familiar with the geometric design from Imperial known as “Octagon” … but did you know that when the pattern was launched in 1913, it was called “The Bellaire”? Yes, Imperial were so proud of their new pattern that they chose to name it in honor of the city where the Imperial glassworks was located – Bellaire, on the Ohio River. |
The next question might be … so why is it known as Octagon, especially when it’s not exactly easy to spot any octagons in the pattern? Well, we have news for you. This familiar pattern has also been called several other names over the years, including Clarendon! And it was even given away free!
STOP! There’s more. This popular design was re-issued by Imperial from the 1960s – do you know the shapes to look out for?
And there’s even more! The Octagon story is also the tale of another, very similar pattern, that it often gets confused with – and many collectors will know it as the Heirloom Series by Indiana. But did you know that it was actually introduced before Imperial’s Octagon? So many twists and turns! The Octagon Story is fascinating. In our detailed and fact-filled feature you’ll see amazing original old, catalogue pages that will surely make you gasp. You’ll discover what goods you could buy to get your free Octagon glassware! You’ll see how the pattern was re-issued and you’ll discover the look-alike geometric patterns that get confused with the familiar Octagon. Here it is: “Imperial’s Octagon – The Story Behind The Glass”. |
Octagon water set (small size pitcher) in marigold, courtesy Seeck Auctions.
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Reopening a Cold Case – Rosalind V
We are honoured and delighted to have this opportunity to feature Stan Hoegerman’s brilliant detective work, as he reopened a cold case surrounding the paternity of Rosalind V. Stan tells us that he and his wife, Carol, found the beautiful Rosalind Variant compote (shown above) at a Virginia Beach antique mall – it caught their attention and piqued their interest. Stan explained that “it was labelled as Peacock Tail and reasonably priced as such. We were happy to give that baby a new home.” This purchase led to an intriguing investigation into which company made the beautiful Rosalind Variant. Having carried out a close and intensive study of all the evidence, the existing theories and explanations, Stan has come to a revealing and fascinating conclusion. You can see Stan's photos and all the clues, as Stan follows the evidence to reach his brilliant conclusion in the article, here: The Paternity of Rosalind V. Our most sincere thanks to Stan for giving us the opportunity to host this excellent article. |
Zooey aka Armadillo
In our recent e-book, the “Encyclopedia of European Carnival” the last but one pattern we feature is “Zooey” from Karhula in Finland. We named it for our grand-daughter, Ellen Zooey, so imagine our surprise when a post in our Carnival Network Facebook Group by Claudio Deveikis, was of two marigold examples that he had found in Brazil. Claudio hadn’t been aware of our choice of name, and he had independently called his bowls “Armadillo”.
So we have a fascinating pattern with two delightful names.
In our recent e-book, the “Encyclopedia of European Carnival” the last but one pattern we feature is “Zooey” from Karhula in Finland. We named it for our grand-daughter, Ellen Zooey, so imagine our surprise when a post in our Carnival Network Facebook Group by Claudio Deveikis, was of two marigold examples that he had found in Brazil. Claudio hadn’t been aware of our choice of name, and he had independently called his bowls “Armadillo”.
So we have a fascinating pattern with two delightful names.
Fenton "Catalog Exclusives", 1999 - 2000 We have been gradually adding more Contemporary Fenton catalogue pages to the range that we have on our website. This is the latest addition, which includes items in Champagne Satin, Violet Satin and Handpainted Woodland Frost. The image shown here is a small extract. Three full-sized pages from this catalogue have been added to our website: Fenton Catalog Exclusives. |
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We invite you and your friends to join us all on NetworK's fast growing and very active Facebook Group (link is below), and if you have missed any of the previous issues of NetworK and NetworK Specials, they are all here: Back Issues.