Imperial’s Homestead and Chrysanthemum
Copyright G & S Thistlewood
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Sometime around 1912, Imperial introduced their NUCUT range (pressed glass imitative of cut glass designs) and shortly afterwards, their NUART range. The NUART range was mainly represented by lampshades and vases, but two astonishingly beautiful plates were also included in the NUART range – Homestead and Chrysanthemum – although not all of the plates carry the moulded NUART trademark |
Decorative Wall Plaques
Crockery and Glass Journal, 1913
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On the left is a clip from the June 1912 issue of the “Crockery and Glass Journal” describing what was clearly meant to be the Homestead plate. Note that they describe the shape as a plaque rather than a plate. That’s because Imperial intended these items to be decorative, and hung on the wall like a plaque. Of course, to gain as much use (and sales) as possible, they also called them cake plates! In fact Imperial’s 1915 catalogue shown below, made the multi-use point in the description of the Homestead and Chrysanthemum pieces, stating that: “these two plates have a rim on the back, which makes it possible to hang them to the wall, just like a china plaque. If put in the proper light, these satin finished iridescent pictures form very beautiful wall decorations”. |
In 1913, the NUCUT line was described in the “Crockery and Glass Journal” as being: “remarkable for its brilliance and the sharpness of the edges where it is made in cut glass effects”, while the NUART range itself was said to be “a line that comes so near the Tiffany Favrile product that few can tell the difference”.
Homestead plate in amber, marked NUART. Seeck Auctions
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Chrysanthemum plate in emerald green. Seeck Auctions
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Imperial's 1915 Catalogue
Imperial catalogue, 1915.
Take a closer look!
Surely there is something "odd" about the images in the Imperial catalogue? It's perhaps most noticeable with the Homestead plate - it is not the same as the design on the Carnival Glass plate! The building is on the left of the catalogue image and on the glass itself, it is on the right. In fact, the catalogue image is the complete inverse of the way the design appears in the glass - as can be seen below, where we have "flipped" the catalogue image (with image editing software), and the "flipped" version shows the design as it actually appears on the glass.
Surely there is something "odd" about the images in the Imperial catalogue? It's perhaps most noticeable with the Homestead plate - it is not the same as the design on the Carnival Glass plate! The building is on the left of the catalogue image and on the glass itself, it is on the right. In fact, the catalogue image is the complete inverse of the way the design appears in the glass - as can be seen below, where we have "flipped" the catalogue image (with image editing software), and the "flipped" version shows the design as it actually appears on the glass.
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Homestead NUART plate, purple. Seeck Auctions
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Interestingly, the "flipped" catalogue image represents how the design would have appeared on the plunger used in the mould - the inverse of how the piece of glass would be turned out.
The false / inverted images can be found in other catalogue illustrations (especially Imperial), which has caused some collectors to ask if they have a "variant" because their piece of Carnival is not like the one shown in the catalogue image. However, they are not variants - they are just the way the designs were (incorrectly) shown in the catalogue. The most likely reason is that there was a disconnect between the factory, the artist who drew the images for the catalogues, and the printer's printing process! Immensely popular! The Homestead and Chrysanthemum plates were undoubtedly very popular with the buying public, and they are very sought after by today's collectors. They are reported in a wide variety of Carnival Glass colours: Chrysanthemum: Amber, Clambroth, Green, Marigold, Purple/Amethyst, Smoke, and White. Homestead: Amber, Blue, Green and Emerald Green, Helios, Honey Amber, Lavender, Marigold, Olive, Purple/Amethyst, Smoke, and White. They were also made in a variety of Stretch Glass colours. |
There is a super stretchy effect on this light
amber Homestead plate. Seeck Auctions. |
Reissues and Reproductions
Homestead and Chrysanthemum plates have been reissued in contemporary Carnival Glass by Imperial Art Glass Company and their successor companies, Lennox Imperial Glass and later, Arthur Lorch Imperial Glass, being marked IG, LIG or ALIG respectively.
The Homestead and Chrysanthemum plates have also been reproduced more recently by Summit in several colours.
Although the Homestead and Chrysanthemum designs are identical to the Classic old pieces, the backs (exteriors) are different. The old plates have ribbed backs, while the modern reproductions have stippled backs.
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Left to right: Chrysanthemum in ice blue marked IG (Burns Auctions), Homestead in smoke marked IG (Seeck Auctions),
Homestead in Geraldines Delight marked ALIG but made by Summit.
Homestead in Geraldines Delight marked ALIG but made by Summit.