Northwood Grape & Cable

Perhaps the lack of information provided by early wholesale marketing catalogs brought about misconceptions in early writings, along with misidentification of some shards from the Helman diggings. In any case, it is time for all of us to realize that the DUGAN Perfume Bottle frequently placed with the NORTHWOOD Grape & Cable Dresser Set elements is in error, with regard to Northwood marketing. (Despite the fact that most of us who put together one of these sets, enjoy having the perfume bottle included.)

The first copies of the Butler Brothers Wholesale Catalogs began surfacing in the 1970s, determining earlier convictions to be incorrect.

Close examination of the Dresser Set advertised in the April 1912 Butler Brothers Wholesale Catalog ad, indicates NO perfume bottle included. Just six pieces are shown. Also to be considered is the fact that all Northwood Grape and Cable having the cable design, display it clearly.


Northwood GRAPE & CABLE COLOGNE BOTTLES and Dugan VINTAGE PERFUME Bottle

Dugan VINTAGE Powder Jar has no cable in the design of the jar, and only three leaves in the lid design.	GRAPE & CABLE Powder Jar Lid - Note four leaves!

Our comparison photos illustrate the differences in design from the two manufacturers. Placement of leaves and grape clusters differ on the two powder jars.

Another variance is displayed in the photo provided by Steve Fink, of his “stippled” powder jar. We wonder how many stippled examples there are?

The purple examples receive rave reviews but it is the marigold examples in the Dugan perfume and powder jars which is more difficult to locate. There are some cobalt blue and a few very rare white examples known in the powder jar, but so far, those colors are not known in the perfume bottle.

Cologne Bottle: Two of these bottles with stoppers were marketed with the six-piece Dresser Set. Most often seen in marigold and amethyst. Green is scarce and the ice blue examples are rare. Carl O. Burns reports holding a white stopper in his hands, so somewhere out there, may be a white bottle to match?

Just as with the Dresser Tray, these Cologne Bottles can be located with the stippling and a band, but only in marigold.

Dresser Tray: measures 11”-12” inches long. Two versions exist - scalloped edge, with marigold and amethyst most available with green examples to be considered scarce. Ice Blue trays are rarely seen, with only one white example known. The version having a smooth edge, usually stippled, with a ½” wide raised band encircling the edge, reported only in marigold.

Hatpin Holder, (with cable): Was marketed individually, as well as in concert with the other five pieces in the Dresser Set. Footed and standing 7” tall, it is a favorite item with collectors. Marigold, amethyst, and green are seen often enough. Cobalt and black amethyst are quite scarce. Lavender, white, ice blue, ice green and lime green should all be considered rare. Two ultra-rare examples of aqua opal are known. (Numerous reproductions coming from Taiwan are to be aware of).

Hatpin Holder, (banded): No cable on this version, replaced by a ½” wide raised band. These are rarely seen and reported in marigold, amethyst and cobalt blue.

Pin Tray, (with cable): Small, oval-shaped and approximately 4”-4 ½” long having a scalloped edge. Marketed as part of the six piece Dresser Set. Difficult to find in most any of the colors known-marigold, amethyst, green, white, ice blue, and pearlized custard.

Pin Tray, (banded): This one is usually stippled and has a wide raised band around the outer, smooth edge. Reported only in marigold, amethyst, and pearlized custard.

Powder Jar, (covered, unstippled) : Marketed both individually and as part of the six-piece Dresser Set, lids without a few chips are next to impossible to find. Most often found in marigold, amethyst or green. Cobalt blue and lavender are rare. White, ice blue, and ice green are extremely rare. Two known aqua opalescent examples exist.


GRAPE & CABLE Amethyst Stippled Powder Jar. Photo supplied by Roger Henry and Steve Fink in June 2005	Stippled GRAPE & CABLE POWDER JAR- owned by Steve Fink

Powder Jar, (covered, stippled): We thank Steve Fink for this photo and report on his example in marigold. If others are known, we will be happy to list them in an update.

Whiskey Decanter, handled: Roughly 10 ½” tall, with a cruet-like neck and spout. The stopper has a flat top. Known only in marigold and amethyst. Very difficult to find with the stopper intact.

Shot Glass: Tiny, and roughly 2 ½” tall, it looks like a miniature tumbler. Marketed along with the Whiskey Decanter as a set. These are known only in marigold and amethyst, but tough to locate in either color!

With Regard for the 1912 Butler Bros. showing the HOLIDAY TRAY - a COLOGNE BOTTLE - and six 3 oz. SHOT GLASSES: Very clever marketing attempts exhibited here! The “new design” referred to is directed towards the Holiday Tray we believe, since Grape and Cable had been in production since 1910.

Note: Perhaps those Whiskey Decanters were expensive and difficult to produce resulting in few sales, ultimately leading to discontinuance. An over-abundance of Shot Glasses in stock would need to be eliminated. There may have been a few too many of those Cologne Bottles in the stockroom, as well? Result?.........Use those items to promote the new Holiday Tray, which has only been found (on rare occasion) in marigold. Probably not many of the trays were produced, but they offered the opportunity to clear out some excess stock of Grape and Cable!?