Six to Seven Inch Dynamos

LITTLE FLOWERS in this size plate is not an easy reach. For that matter, the berry set pieces in 5-6” and 10” bowls don't surface often either! Amethyst, aqua, blue, marigold and red are known in the larger size, with the smaller bowl unknown in red. Chop plates of 10 1/2” are scarcely available in marigold to date. One of those brought $2800 in 1997. These small plates have been found in powder blue with marigold overlay, and in marigold over clear glass, as the one pictured. A marigold whimsied version having four sides up is known in small size. Of Fenton origin.

SAILBOATS has always been a favorite among collectors. The water goblets, wine glasses and compote have distinctly patterned stems of great interest. Blue and marigold are standard colors, with green known in the goblet form. The 6” sauces in ice cream or ruffled shapes are found in marigold, blue, and green, with an occasional red, or red/amberina as a surprise! Plates in 6-6 ½” size are available in marigold and blue. An exceptional blue plate brought $1400. in 1995, from the personal collection of the late John Britt. Of Fenton origin.

CHERRY CHAIN is found in small 5-6” bowls, and larger ones of 9-10” size with ruffled, or 3 and 1 edges or ice cream shape. A few chop plates are known in 11” size in marigold and white. The small plates 6-6 ½”, are fairly available in marigold and blue. Amethyst is more unusual, with green being very scarce to rare. We purchased the one shown, from Tom Mordini many years ago, when it turned up during an Air Capitol Convention in Wichita, while we were in attendance. Of Fenton Origin.

PERSIAN MEDALLION pattern is found widely on an array of shapes. Chop plates have always been found in blue. 9 “ plates are found most often in blue, with marigold, green, amethyst and white causing some difficulty to locate and pay for. A lovely white example sold this year during the Pacific Northwest Convention for $2000! These smaller size plates are known in green, amethyst, vaseline, marigold, black amethyst, clambroth and blue. Depending upon the iridescent treatment applied, even the blue examples can be pricey! ……….up to $400. Green ones will be about $500. We decided it would be nice to own blue in all three sizes. They have all been purchased at auction. Not at the same time, of course! Ideas of this nature can take years to materialize! Of Fenton origin.

BLACKBERRY WREATH is a well known pattern, found in berry set size bowls. A large square shape is known in marigold, along with a couple of marigold chop plates flattened from the large berry bowl. Amethyst has been reported in this 6-7” plate. A small green plate sold for $2700 in 1996. As for these marigold small plates, estimates are that there are six known. Any one of them would no doubt exceed that $2700 mark if it should become available today. Of Millersburg origin.

HANGING CHERRIES plates are very desirable and always bring a substantial price. One known 8" green plate sold for $4250 in a 1994 auction. 11" Chop plate size is known in amethyst, green, and marigold (one ea.) The green example brought $3700 at the Adams' sale on 11/22/03. There are table sets, compotes, powder jar, milk pitchers, and water sets to be found in green, marigold, and amethyst. Teal and aqua colors are also known in some shapes. There are purported to be six of the 6" marigold plates. One of these sold for $3400 during the 11/22/03 auction of the Adams' collection in Wentzville, MO. Millersburg radium is always in demand.

PEACOCK is a "stand-out" in any crowd. Correct? Well………..we are of the opinion that in some cases, there are leaders of the flock! This little amethyst beauty is a fine tribute to those mould makers who paid great homage to that "feathered friend" we find portrayed on literally hundreds of carnival pieces having forward and backward tiaras, some with bees, some with no beading on the urn. (Please study the article = on this site, written by the Wagner's, for better understanding). This small plate is very rare and will fetch at least $1600 if it is nice and flat, and well iridized. Both large and small ice cream bowls, rose bowl shape, an oval vaseline whimsey shape and a "proof" example with missing leg are known to be among this flock of birds. This small plate is known in amethyst and marigold. 6" ice cream shape bowls are known in amethyst, green, marigold, and at least one very nice blue one is known. It turned up in an auction in Ohio in April, 2001. $1800 was paid for it. Of Millersburg origin.

FIELD THISTLE is an exterior pattern found on water sets, vase whimsey, compote, creamer, spooner, 10” chop plate, 9” plate, as well as this small plate, not quite 6” in size. With exception to an ice blue sauce, one known vaseline chop plate (it glows), the pieces are in an amberish marigold color, much like that found on many of the patterns known to be US Glass. A celeste blue creamer lends pause, but with records of the US Glass production being almost non-existent, we have little actual proof to proceed with. Surface finish on these pieces is radium-type.

FISHSCALE and BEADS is a simple design, but lends itself to light and shadows very well in admiring the overall effect. 6-7” bowls, and a banana boat shape, along with marigold punch cups are the extent of use for this pattern, other than these very collectible plates in amethyst/purple (at least one of which is a souvenir of Sturgis, Mich.) Peach Opal is a scarce color. Marigold and white complete the color range.

GARDEN PATH VARIANT, is the name given this 6-7” plate having six small, winged heart-like designs, along with six five-petalled fronds, similar to palm leaves bordering the outer edge of the pattern. The Garden Path chop plates lack these additions to the pattern. Marigold, amethyst, peach opal and white are the colors known, with none of them easily found. Dugan's white carnival line had been in production for slightly more than a month when the Feb. 1912 fire occurred, creating a shortage of that color in many patterns. Of Dugan origin.

WISHBONE & SPADES is one of the all time favorites with collectors. Geometric designs are a trademark with Dugan patterns and this one displays very well. Chop plates are nearly always found in a rich amethyst color having heavy iridescence, making them a treasure! At the time Carl O. Burns wrote his account of Dugan Carnival Glass in 1999, only one peach opal chop plate had been confirmed. None have been sold publicly, at least, since that time. There may be considerably more of the amethyst 6-7” size plates as well. However, a sizable number of the peach examples do turn up in auctions. Ice cream shape, ruffled, a triangular shape and a banana bowl can be found. This pattern was marketed as a “cake set”, so the bowl shapes were developed by factory shapers and handlers following removal from the molds. Of Dugan Origin.

PERSIAN GARDEN 6-7” plates are found in white, having Pool of Pearl exterior, or a plain exterior. Marigold and peach opalescent examples, along with a rare amethyst are known, having a plain exterior. Rarer still, is a cobalt blue example. Fruit bowl and base are prized additions to a collection. These small plates are available in marigold, amethyst, white, and lavender. Ruffled and ice cream shaped bowls in 5-6” and 9-11” are known, as well; all in the colors mentioned, excepting blue. Of Dugan Origin.

FOUR FLOWERS is the modern-day name for this popular pattern. The name Pods and Posies came from an earlier era of collectors. Two sizes of plates and several bowl variations are the basic items found here. Most examples will have a plain exterior, but some small plates are known with the Basketweave Variant exterior. The rose bowl and at least one chop plate are known to carry the Soda Gold, or Tree of Life exterior pattern. You will notice the smooth edge on this Dugan version. The Four Flowers Variant plates and bowls have the same pattern, but the edges are all scalloped. These are of European manufacture…..Yes, glass companies were known to “borrow” popular designs from one another! These small plates can be found in marigold, amethyst, and peach opalescent. Small amethyst plates are extremely difficult to locate! Of Dugan Origin.

MID-SPRING 1911 BUTLER BROTHERS WHOLESALE AD displaying the two sizes in plates, calling this a “cake set”. (Can you feature eating YOUR cake from either of these?) Some of the plates DO have rubbed areas on the higher levels of the design. Perhaps someone actually took the marketing bait? OH DEAR! Of course, at 45 cents for the entire seven piece set, there wasn't much to lose! Considering today's prices for replacement, provided you could put a good matching set together in amethyst: A cool $7000-$8000 might cover it?