Pernilla
By Carnival Glass researcher John Hodgson
Great news for collectors of contemporary Carnival Glass!
During a recent visit to a large garden centre, I spotted a display of iridised glass. Usually, things like this turn out to be thin, hand-blown vases or glass coloured with lacquers that trick the eye into thinking that they are iridised. On this occasion, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find this heavy, pressed glass, footed tazza. Proper Carnival Glass, no less, and brand spanking new.
Great news for collectors of contemporary Carnival Glass!
During a recent visit to a large garden centre, I spotted a display of iridised glass. Usually, things like this turn out to be thin, hand-blown vases or glass coloured with lacquers that trick the eye into thinking that they are iridised. On this occasion, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find this heavy, pressed glass, footed tazza. Proper Carnival Glass, no less, and brand spanking new.
The pattern is very modern, borrowing influences from the 50s and 60s, perhaps, with references to more traditional themes: fleur-de-lis, stars, diamonds and what I would describe as moth antennae – I hope someone can come up with a better description. It is part of the “Pernilla” range, which consists of a tazza and a plate, and both are available in three different sizes - shown on the right. |
Using modern production techniques, the tazza is made from two parts that have been seamlessly glued together. This has allowed both sections to be made from simple one-piece moulds, so there are no unsightly seams. It’s actually quite difficult to tell, but I believe the iridescence has only been applied to one surface, giving to the top of the plate a rather pleasing 3-D effect. This new glass doesn’t have the rich, vibrant colours that you would associate with Classic or some Contemporary Carnival Glass and it is only available in marigold or clear glass, but it is a good example of what can be achieved using modern techniques. It’s good to see manufacturers using new designs and moulds – rather than copying or borrowing old ones. However, watch out for these items being sold elsewhere as ‘old’ carnival glass. The glass is being marketed in the UK by Wikholmform, which is a Swedish company who sourced this product from a Chinese manufacturer. I have not yet determined who actually made the glass. Wikholmform have kindly agreed to let me share with you these illustrations from their latest catalogue. |
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