Collectors Facts - Rose Garden, a Mystery Solved
Rose Garden – a pattern loved by collectors.
Carnival Glass pioneer, Rose Presznick, named the pattern Rose Marie and back in 1967 she wrote that the oval* vase was “one of the most beautiful pieces of Carnival Glass I have ever seen”. Marion Hartung was similarly enamoured by the Rose Garden oval vase, writing in 1965 that “this is not only one of the most attractive pieces of intaglio glass we have ever seen in Carnival Glass, but is as well one of the most beautiful vases we have ever seen.”
The Rose Garden pattern was made in Carnival Glass by Brockwitz (Germany) from as early as 1915 and possibly before that. A range of shapes was produced by them and illustrated in Brockwitz catalogues over many years, including bowls in five sizes, butter dish, flower holder, cylinder vases and of course, the elegant oval vase (in three different sizes) that was so beloved of both the Carnival pioneers, Mrs Hartung and Mrs Presznick.
In Sweden, Eda Glasbruk also made the Rose Garden pattern in Carnival Glass – and a puzzle regarding attribution (is it Brockwitz or Eda?) has tantalised Carnival collectors for many years.
Brockwitz or Eda?
Is it possible to distinguish between the Eda and Brockwitz versions of the large Rose Garden oval vase? Yes, the answer to the puzzle is very simple!
The only Rose Garden shape illustrated in known Eda catalogues is the oval vase. The comparative size of the item on the catalogue page, plus the pattern details shown in the illustration, strongly suggests that it was the large 9 inch vase. It is the only item shown in the Rose Garden pattern in that catalogue and is therefore the only shape and size in the pattern that can be attributed with certainty to Eda Glasbruk. Eda made one shape only, a large oval vase.
Therefore, the evidence says that all other shapes and sizes of Rose Garden were made by Brockwitz.
Carnival Glass pioneer, Rose Presznick, named the pattern Rose Marie and back in 1967 she wrote that the oval* vase was “one of the most beautiful pieces of Carnival Glass I have ever seen”. Marion Hartung was similarly enamoured by the Rose Garden oval vase, writing in 1965 that “this is not only one of the most attractive pieces of intaglio glass we have ever seen in Carnival Glass, but is as well one of the most beautiful vases we have ever seen.”
The Rose Garden pattern was made in Carnival Glass by Brockwitz (Germany) from as early as 1915 and possibly before that. A range of shapes was produced by them and illustrated in Brockwitz catalogues over many years, including bowls in five sizes, butter dish, flower holder, cylinder vases and of course, the elegant oval vase (in three different sizes) that was so beloved of both the Carnival pioneers, Mrs Hartung and Mrs Presznick.
In Sweden, Eda Glasbruk also made the Rose Garden pattern in Carnival Glass – and a puzzle regarding attribution (is it Brockwitz or Eda?) has tantalised Carnival collectors for many years.
Brockwitz or Eda?
Is it possible to distinguish between the Eda and Brockwitz versions of the large Rose Garden oval vase? Yes, the answer to the puzzle is very simple!
The only Rose Garden shape illustrated in known Eda catalogues is the oval vase. The comparative size of the item on the catalogue page, plus the pattern details shown in the illustration, strongly suggests that it was the large 9 inch vase. It is the only item shown in the Rose Garden pattern in that catalogue and is therefore the only shape and size in the pattern that can be attributed with certainty to Eda Glasbruk. Eda made one shape only, a large oval vase.
Therefore, the evidence says that all other shapes and sizes of Rose Garden were made by Brockwitz.
A side-by-side comparison of the Eda and Brockwitz versions
There are substantial and significant differences, in both shape and pattern, between the Eda version of the large oval vase and the Brockwitz version. It is very easy to distinguish the seldom seen Eda version from the more frequently observed Brockwitz vase - just one glance shows that the Eda version is much narrower and slightly taller than the Brockwitz vase.
They are shown above, side-by-side: Eda on the left and Brockwitz on the right
Footnote: * the oval vase is also sometimes referred to as a letter vase or fan shaped vase.