Northwood's Peacocks / Peacocks on the Fence
Originally written November 2014 and since expanded.
Peacocks! It is inconceivable to imagine Carnival Glass without peacocks. The inspiration, the alluring iridescence, and of course, the patterns; they all bring us back to the concept of the peacock, and their wide and varying influences on Carnival Glass and its many facets.
The Peacock as an entire motif was used by many of the main Classic Carnival makers (only Imperial, out of the “Big Five”, did not have a design featuring the bird itself).
But we’re going to stick our necks out here and say that we feel that one peacock pattern stands out above the others, and that’s Northwood’s Peacocks (aka Peacocks on the Fence). There’s something about it that elevates it above all the other peacock designs, and it is arguably the pattern that many collectors would say epitomises Carnival Glass. |
Peacocks stippled plate in pastel marigold.
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In our opinion, the secret lies in the perfectly balanced composition of the design. Look at the peacock on the right of the pair; the upward pointing direction of its head cleverly draws the eye aloft, while the fanned out feathers guide one’s gaze downwards, along the tail and back to the peacock. This was no design accident—it is brilliant composition! It has life and “movement” in a way that no other Carnival Peacock design has. And then the masterstroke of using a rayed exterior on some pieces which often produces a masterly optical illusion of sunrays appearing behind the peacocks, as shown to great effect on the aqua opal bowl, below right.
Peacocks bowl in green with an amazing "pie-crust" edge.
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A ruffled Peacocks bowl in Northwood's signature colour effect, aqua opal.
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But the particular magic of Northwood's peacock design is that it is a stunning example of Harry Northwood's genius and how it cleverly utilises several aspects of what is known as the “Golden Mean” or the “Golden Ratio”. It’s what Leonardo da Vinci (*) used to achieve perfect composition in his art, and what Le Corbusier (**) employed in his architectural design. The “Golden Mean” is where the ratio of small elements to larger elements is the same as the ratio of larger elements to the whole: the end result being very pleasing to the eye. It represents beauty, harmony and balance in a physical form and has been used over many centuries.
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Harry Northwood was classically trained at the Stourbridge School of Art, where not only would he have honed his drawing skills to perfection, but he would also have become skilled in the art of perfect composition.
Harry’s ‘Peacocks’ is arguably one of the finest examples of Classic Carnival Glass design, and a favourite of many. As regards the timing, the first ads featuring Harry’s Peacocks appeared in the Spring 1912 issue of Butler Brothers wholesale catalogue, as part of a wider selection of Northwood's Carnival production (shown right), and there’s no doubt it was a success. The "Assortment" included other Northwood designs which have become very sought after: top row from top left - Hearts and Flowers, Daisy and Plume, Corn Vase, Beaded Cable, Bushell Basket and Daisy and Drape Vase. Bottom row - Nippon, Hearts and Flowers, Peacocks, Drapery. Right: Butler Brothers Spring 1912
wholesale catalogue. |
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As part of our ongoing research into Carnival Glass around the world, we reported a major discovery in January 2000 - and Northwood's Peacocks played a vital part in that revelation.
Here on the right is the ad that we published back then - it provided the proof absolute that Northwood had made the Rose Show and Poppy Show pieces. Although the Carnival world had believed for years that Northwood was the maker, there was no actual proof, no documentary confirmation. No Rose Show or Poppy Show pieces bore the Northwood N mark, and no catalogue illustrations had been found ... that is, until our NetworK journal was published. The ad is from the 1913 Baltimore Bargain House book, which had been found by collector Karen McIntyre, and she kindly gave us permission to publish it in NetworK. It shows Peacocks and other patterns that are all definitively known Northwood pieces alongside illustrations of the Rose Show and Poppy Show patterns! The Northwood patterns shown in the ad, from the top and left to right, are: Four Pillars vase; Hearts and Flowers compote; Poppy pickle dish; Grape and Cable handled bonbon; Fine Cut and Roses footed candy dish; Rose Show bowl; Bushel Basket; pie crust edge Hearts and Flowers bowl; ruffled Peacocks bowl; Peacocks plate; Lattice and Poinsettia bowl; Poppy Show plate. Right: Baltimore Bargain House ad 1913,
courtesy of Karen McIntyre. |
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Northwood’s genius continued further, of course. The magnificence of the iridescence found on most examples of this pattern is matched only by the brilliance of the colours in which it was made. Velvety cobalt, fiery pumpkin and shimmering pastel marigold, greens of various splendid hues, smoke, white, ice blue and green, delicate lavender, amethyst and deeper purple. Then there’s aqua opal, horehound and strange colours such as blue slag (sorbini) and a rare peach opal. Harry Northwood was undoubtedly a great colourist.
What about Peacocks pattern shapes? This wasn’t a pattern that would lend itself to adaption on a variety of shapes and forms. Bowls and plates only; but Harry had some tricks up his sleeve. Edges! His sensational pie crust edge crimping took the simple bowl shape to a whole new level. Other tricks were to add stippling and enhance the effects of sparkling iridescence, and to use a rib pattern on the exterior of some of the pieces (as shown earlier, and also on the ice green plate below).
As well as supplying the American market with his extensive range of Carnival Glass, Harry’s Peacocks bowls and plates were also exported (he made sure he sent some stunning pieces back home to England) and some rare colours have been found in the UK and Australia - in particular, Australia is a noted source of Northwood's pastel colours, ice blue and ice green.
Here is a just a small selection of Peacocks pieces!
As well as supplying the American market with his extensive range of Carnival Glass, Harry’s Peacocks bowls and plates were also exported (he made sure he sent some stunning pieces back home to England) and some rare colours have been found in the UK and Australia - in particular, Australia is a noted source of Northwood's pastel colours, ice blue and ice green.
Here is a just a small selection of Peacocks pieces!
Peacocks on the Fence bowl, dark marigold #
Peacocks on the Fence bowl, sorbini / blue slag #
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Peacocks on the Fence bowl, blue
Peacocks on the Fence plate, ice green #
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Peacocks on the Fence bowl, purple #
Peacocks on the Fence stippled plate, blue
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# Pictures courtesy of Seeck Auctions.
Where there’s a success story (and subsequent money) there’s often someone trying to fake it. From wannabee Louis Vuitton handbags to join-the-dots Picassos; fakes are the scourge of the antique trade and Northwood’s Peacocks are a prime example.
Where there’s a success story (and subsequent money) there’s often someone trying to fake it. From wannabee Louis Vuitton handbags to join-the-dots Picassos; fakes are the scourge of the antique trade and Northwood’s Peacocks are a prime example.
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GENUINE – THE REAL DEAL
Green Peacocks bowl, |
FAKE! Modern Reproduction FAKE!
Repro / fake / rip off (from the Far East) |
Fortunately, although they have "improved" somewhat over time, fake Peacocks pieces are fairly easy to spot, even to a new collector (see photos above for comparison—the fake is on the right). On the Peacocks fakes you can see that the pattern fills the bowl much more, with the leaves at the bottom and at the top right, almost touching the edge. Often there’s a big, chunky letter N on the base too (the genuine version of the N should be underlined and in a circle). Some of the fakes are really heavy—but others are quite lightweight; some fakes have a ground base—others don’t; some are iridised underneath —others aren’t. Some even have a solid disk instead of the usual collar base. The iridescence is usually a dead give-away. Fakes are often brash and gaudy, with a lot of shine, or may be weak and poor. Northwood’s originals are almost always top notch, with subtle softness and colours that can bring you to your knees!
Peacocks—the very heart and soul of Carnival Glass.
* Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. His fame initially rested mainly on the greatness of his paintings - the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper being most famous - but he is also recognised for his drawings and notes on a variety of subjects, including anatomy, astronomy, botany, cartography, painting, and palaeontology. Leonardo is widely regarded as a genius who epitomised the Renaissance humanist ideal. Some of his concepts were well ahead of his time, or even feasible in his lifetime: he conceptualised flying machines, a type of armoured fighting vehicle, concentrated solar power, a ratio machine that could be used in an adding machine, and more. He also made substantial discoveries in anatomy, civil engineering, hydrodynamics, geology, and optics.
** Le Corbusier (1887–1965) was a Swiss-French pioneering modernist architect whose works span 79 built projects worldwide, showcasing functionalism, sculptural expression, and innovative urban planning. He revolutionised 20th-century architecture by combining functionalism with bold sculptural forms. He was a leading figure in the International Style, emphasizing geometric forms, open spaces, flat roofs, large windows, and minimal ornamentation.
Source: Wikipedia
** Le Corbusier (1887–1965) was a Swiss-French pioneering modernist architect whose works span 79 built projects worldwide, showcasing functionalism, sculptural expression, and innovative urban planning. He revolutionised 20th-century architecture by combining functionalism with bold sculptural forms. He was a leading figure in the International Style, emphasizing geometric forms, open spaces, flat roofs, large windows, and minimal ornamentation.
Source: Wikipedia