Northwood - Part 1

POPPY SCROLL: As you take a closer look at this pattern, you will recognize it to be the exact same one used on Northwood's Oriental Poppy water set. This is the only other piece found having the identical design. The bowl has the N within the circle on the back!

This large twelve inch, eight ruffle bowl is impressive. It is three inches high with a factory ground base. Several collectors have reported seeing this bowl decorated in Goofus glass. This is understandable because Northwood manufactured some Goofus glass.

Jim Measell, who wrote a book on Northwood which contains Carnival Glass, had a slide of this bowl in his featured seminar on Harry Northwood presented at the ACGA Convention held in Parkersburg, West Virginia in the early `90s. His research information stated that Northwood originally named this pattern Poppy Scroll.

DANDELION MUG: First, let us clear up the fact that this is not the same design as the one which appears on the water sets. Production of this mug dates to the 1911-1912 period. None of the colors are “easily” found. Amethyst and marigold are more readily found than cobalt. Horehound and aqua opal are somewhat more difficult, and ice blue opal is quite rare.

There are Knights Templar souvenir mugs having the emblem of that organization on the bottom of the mugs. These were created to celebrate the May 1912 Knights Templar convention held in Pittsburgh, PA. It is a rare instance when history relates the number of any of the souvenir pieces made for an event, but in this case, reports indicate that 5,000 iridescent mugs were produced by the Wheeling, West Virginia firm of Northwood. The souvenir mugs are made from the standard Dandelion mug mold and can be found in marigold, ice blue, and ice green.~~~the ice colors being new to the line of Northwood products at that time in history. Pastels were coming “into their own” in 1912.

Poppy Variant Exterior - is found on the exterior of 7” ruffled bowls in marigold, amethyst and green. The interior has a raised Stippled Daisy design in the marie area, and the N is found in the flower's center. Some bowls having this exterior design are perfectly smooth and plain on the interior. There are publications which call this bowl “common”~~whatever that means! When comparing their “availability” to those birds whose name begins with a “P”, we can truthfully say that Peacocks are far more “commonly” found for purchase! These Poppy Variant bowls are not to be confused with Northwood Poppy Show or Poppy pickle dishes.

BULLSEYE and LEAVES: is an older Northwood offering, dating to 1908-1909 timeframe. Interior is plain, with all design confined to the exterior surface. Depending upon the crimp of the ruffle, they can be 7 ½”- 9” and occasionally found in marigold and green, with some of the green examples displaying the “Alaskan” finish, which has a marigold-like overlay. Collector interest is somewhat lacking when it comes to these exterior patterns. They are difficult to display for appreciation of the patterns.

BUTLER BROS. 1912 ad: This is one for the “books”! Here is a Dugan Heron mug and a Northwood Singing Birds mug being marketed together. Heron mugs are very difficult to find. It first appeared in the wholesale catalogs in Spring 1912, disappearing in Aug. 1913. That is a short production history. Could Thomas Dugan have sold this mold to Northwood before he left Indiana, PA, at which time the Dugan plant became known as Diamond Glass Company?? Perhaps sales were not satisfactory for Northwood, and they discontinued use of the mold?

HERON Mug: Amethyst mugs are very hard to locate, and the marigold ones, even more so. They are in the rare category and command very respectable prices and proper attention when one appears for sale.

SINGING BIRDS Mug: Marigold, amethyst, green, cobalt blue, white, ice blue, smoke, lavender, horehound, teal, pearlized custard, aqua opalescent and ice blue opalescent offer large variety in the mugs having a smooth background. If it's a stippled background you prefer, there is marigold, amethyst, green, cobalt blue, and the one they call Renninger blue; which produces another couple of “oldtimer tales” which you definitely need to hear! (smile).

How in the World did anyone arrive at such a color name? Well………..over in PA, there has always been a huge antique store, with open fields attached, where a tremendous flea market is held every year! Cars, mobile homes and trucks pull in, rent space, open their trunks, and tailgates to sell from, with some “more elaborately equipped vendors” setting up stalls or selling from tents for two or three days in summer. People come from all over, walk for miles from sunup to sundown, buying like crazy! NOW, you should be getting the idea! Way back when, the FIRST piece of CG of this “varying” shade of blue exposed itself: `twas right `heah! at Renninger's Market, no less. Now you have the REST of the story!

While you are in the “story mode”, we must allow you to place a proper assessment on “stippling”! Then you can be the judge as to what you pay for that effect on a piece of Carnival Glass. As molds are used, fragments of glass become attached to the scalding hot metal. Men in the mold shops are constantly cleaning the surfaces. In that repeated process, gouges and indentations are incurred from scraping and digging the surfaces. How would YOU extend life of those extremely expensive molds? You are absolutely correct!! Stipple that background surface to cover up the damaged places…………This story is rather like the one which asks: which came first? The chicken or the egg? Now you can properly decide which pieces are more valuable!

Northwood Berry sets, table sets and water sets are found in this pattern, as well, along with a pedestal-footed sherbet in marigold. More discussion of these pieces will occur later on.

SINGING BIRDS MUG - Stippled: These stippled examples are much more rare than the smooth version. They may be found in marigold, amethyst, green and Renninger blue, in addition to the cobalt blue.

GREEK KEY Variant: or Greek Key and Scales as some call the pattern: These dome footed bowls are a carry-over from the opalescent period of production, appearing in a 1906 Northwood factory catalog. The Greek Key design is used on the exterior surface of these deeply ruffled 7”-9” bowls, combined with a Scales design. The interior can be plain, or have Stippled Rays patterning. Most are ruffled, some octagonal, and the least often seen are the three in one edge crimping. Marigold, amethyst and green are the only reported colors, with amethyst being the most difficult to locate. Most have the Northwood trademark.

GREEK KEY Variant: In Aug. 2004, the first known ice blue Greek Key Variant bowl surfaced over Ebay from Australia~not really too surprising, since Sunflower, Good Luck, Grape Leaves and Petals bowls in ice blue have nearly all surfaced in Australia, leading to the conclusion that the pastel was quite attractive to that market during the 1914-1915 production period. The selling price was $1762.

GREEK KEY: 9 inch plates in this pattern are quite difficult to find, and when you locate one, be prepared to pay premium prices for the best examples! Collar-base plates are quite desirable in marigold, amethyst, green, and cobalt blue. A couple of marigold plates are known to have the ribbed exterior.

Since we own two plates in this pattern, having Basketweave exterior and one having ribbed backing, we can tell you first hand that application of iridescence is more evenly distributed on the ones having Basketweave, because there is a slight “dip” in the glass between the ribbing, which altered the flow of color when applied! In conclusion: The most important factor is that surface color be EVENLY applied, since that is the side which commands attention.

8-9 inch ruffled bowls having collar bases are found in marigold, amethyst, green, cobalt blue and ice green. These collar-based bowls and plates are usually found with Basketweave exterior pattern. A couple of rare examples having the ribbed exterior are known. Pie-crust edged bowls are quite desirable, as well.

HEARTS and FLOWERS: is one of the most favored patterns in all of carnival glass! It is a busy, all-over, captivating design and displays well on ruffled or pie-crust edged bowls, along with 8”- 9” flat plates. Compotes have the design continuing down the stem and onto the foot, which adds interest. Total collections are built from the numerous colors and shapes offered in this pattern.

9” plates in any of the colors would be difficult to obtain for a price under $1000. Vaseline, sapphire blue, lime green, and ice green are extremely expensive and difficult to find. Ice blue, white, and cobalt blue plates command attention, along with nice green ones, amethyst and marigold having deep color and good iridescence.

WISHBONE: is a popular pattern for collectors, perhaps because of its various interesting shapes. Production began during the years of 1911-1912, continuing as late as 1914-1915, well into the pastel production years. Scroll footed bowls and plates, a triangular shaped plate, collar base plates and bowls which are found ruffled or having pie crust edges, along with generous chop plates of 10-10 ½” on collar bases are to be found. Water sets, as well as the delightful Epergne we display in amethyst, complete the array of very desirable selections to collect.

None of the colors are readily found and the ice blue and ice green should be considered rare indeed! This is a two-piece epergne. Over the years, the single lily base and the bowl opening it fits into have become slightly damaged in many cases, Perfect examples in this and all other epergnes is a great deal to ask. As you can see from the photo, the Wishbone design covers the lily and the interior of the base. Exterior bowl design is the Northwood Basketweave.