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Fenton Dragon & Lotus
FENTON DRAGON & LOTUS
By Ardonna Bucher
Intro Note from Diane Fry:
It is believed, at this writing, that Ardonna Bucher has more examples
of this pattern in her vast collection than any other collector. We are
pleased to present her charted documentation surrounding this vast
accumulation. Beginners and advanced collectors alike, should benefit
greatly from this information.

FENTON DRAGON & LOTUS

My name is Ardonna Bucher. I've been collecting carnival glass for
about eighteen years . Not a novice, but sometimes I feel like one. I had
collected carnival glass for about four or five years before I started
collecting the Dragon and Lotus pattern. I don't really know why I decided
on that pattern. I didn't even realize that there were many D & L
collectors. One of the first clubs I joined was the San Diego Carnival Club. One of
the programs was given by Dr. Chris Reynolds. He collected Dragon & Lotus.
I didn't know there was so many different shapes and colors. He really
helped me become more enthused. I even got to buy some of his extras that I
didn't have. He filled in many blanks about this popular Fenton pattern.
He was acquainted with Sherman Hand. Sherman had written a carnival
glass book and in this book I found out that he thought the nut bowl was the
most rare shape. When I started collecting the D & Lotus, I wish I hadn't
later but, I started out with the high end pieces. Dragon and Lotus is a
prevalent pattern. You don't have to look very hard to find marigold
pieces. I searched malls, antique shops, bulletins and just about any place
you might find carnival glass. On this search I accumulated about
45 pieces. In the mean time I had become friends with Dr. Chris and his
wife. They belonged to the Pacific Northwest Carnival Glass Club. My
husband and I went to just about everyone of those conventions. He did
another program for their club and I kept learning a little bit more. Then
one evening in 1991 I got a phone call from Dr. Chris. He explained that he
and his wife were selling their home and moving into a retirement
center.They would have their own apartment, but they would not have enough
room for all his Dragons. Sooo he wanted to know if I would be interested
in buying his collection. WELL! I definitely was interested, but I didn't
know if I could afford all those Dragons. Dr. Chris said he would catalog
the collection and was sure we would be able to come to an agreement on
price. He wanted to sell the whole collection. That's why I said I
shouldn't have started at the top. I would have lots of duplications. By
the way we're talking 72 more Dragon and Lotus which would give me about
116. Yes, we did reach an agreement. In August of 1991 we went to the
convention in Eugene, Oregon and picked up 72 more Dragons. I know how Dr.
Chris felt. It's like giving up your children. You grow attached to so many
different pieces. How you acquired them and from whom. So I told him he was
always welcome to come and visit his collection. He imparted much
information to me. He didn't write about what he knew, but he told me I
could do that. I've written some articles, but could probably do much more.
In the years since I bought the collection, it's hard to believe how many more
colors and even shapes have surfaced. Sorry I can't say I was the happy
recipient of them all. My goal was to find the different shapes in all the colors.
Well, I didn't realize how many different Dragon and Lotus there are. I still haven't
reached my goal. But that's half the fun, looking and meeting so many
people who share their trials in looking for that elusive glass. I really
enjoy finding out who the previous owners were and where they came by
them.You accumulate many interesting stories. Yes, I'm still looking for
some of these hard to find Dragons. In my travels I've had some most
informative talks with Mr. Frank Fenton. He told me his father was an avid
reader of the Chinese culture and had quite and extensive library. In
studying this pattern, it's full of history. Mr. Fenton said his father
designed this pattern. When I think about the mold makers carving out this
pattern in metal it's hard to believe, and also to be able to duplicate the
pattern time and again. I neglected to mention ALL the great people who
have helped me find some of these pieces. Thank you all for your help. I
guess it pays to keep asking and doing surveys about your pattern. That old
adage "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", can pay off. In the chart. The
heading with "H" and "L" stands for a HIGH and LOW ruffled bowl and the B
BOAT stands for banana boat. There are some one of a kind that we know
of, in that list. The footed marigold plate, white ice cream shape footed
bowl, aqua opal ice cream shape footed bowl, lime green opal collar based
plate, cobalt blue ice cream shape collar based bowl, white ruffled collar
based bowl, amber opal slag collar based bowl, the banana boat shaped
marigold bowl. Hope I haven't left out too many. If you decide to add a
Dragon and Lotus to your collection , Good Luck and Enjoy. It's a great
pattern to start with. When it gets into your blood, you might even end
up with 116!

Dragon & Lotus Chart


Happy Hunting,
Ardonna.......6/17/03


A Few Words on Vaseline Glass   ·   A Lesson in Toxic Issues   ·   A Personal Reflection into Fenton Past   ·   America the Beautiful   ·   Beginners Journey   ·   Brocaded Roses by Central Glass   ·   Don Grizzle and His NW Jardiniere   ·   Famous Last Words   ·   Fenton Dragon & Lotus   ·   Fishscale & Beads   ·   Frank M. Fenton   ·   Grapevine Lattice   ·   In Memory Of George Loescher   ·   Lattice & Points/Vining Twigs   ·   My First True Love ~aka~ Cosmos & Cane   ·   My First Days of Carnival Glass Collecting   ·   Popularity  VS.  Actual Rarity   ·   The Different Millersburg Peacock Molds   ·   The Myths and Mysteries of Straw Marks   ·   The Stuff We Prize is Just on Loan   ·   Thoughts From Fay   ·   What A Message   ·   Wholesale vs. Retail


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