Top Ten

Passionate pursuits along the Carnival Glass Trail since the mid-sixties has taught that intense study, along with personal preferences are the pre-requisites for determining “what to buy”. Iridescence is the Essence! Amount of money spent to purchase any given piece does not constitute value or rarity! Financial status of the previous owner should have no bearing on desirability or determination of value either; nor should Hoopla and Hootspa drive prices. As you peruse the twenty examples listed here, please be advised that many collectors have not had the pleasure of seeing some of them! This factor, in and of itself, creates tremendous variation in price results!

In the name of “promotional hobby practice”, writers and sellers since the days when the late Don Moore began writing about the Top Ten, have given entirely too much notice to selections which tout a huge price tag! Rarity is based upon how few in number are available.

It has long been known that Ohio collectors seem to prefer Millersburg glass. For many years, it has appeared to be a form of competition among them. This drives prices, but, in and of itself, does not constitute an overall statement of rarity or value, however. When produced, dedication of the Peoples Vase to the local Amish settlement in and around Millersburg, created intense interest in ownership, but with at least seven vases known and a couple of them having damage, rarity is not the issue. There is one marigold, one green; with the others being amethyst and blue.

There are cases where Dugan pattern examples, along with Fenton and Northwood can claim extremely rare status; in some cases, more so than anything from Millersburg Glass.

While developing this article, it required only a few minutes of thought to list 14 top Rarities which are virtually never discussed. The reason being: Adequate previous attention has not been drawn to their existence! In such cases, the few examples have been out of circulation for a number of years. (Rather out of sight-out of mind, so to speak.) It’s time the proper attention is granted to these extremely rare and beautiful items.

Are there other rare examples beyond the ones discussed here? Yes indeed! There is but one blue Rosalind compote and both known marigold examples are different! One has a marigold stem/base, while the other has a clear stem/base. The blue one was offered to us just after discovery at the Rose Bowl flea market in Los Angeles….for $20,000! It is not beautifully iridized. We refused, but it later sold for a price beyond the original asking price!

You will also find additional information surrounding these patterns, by going to our www.carnivalglass101.com web-site. Use the pattern alphabet on our homepage to be taken to the detailed information surrounding each piece.

Since we have no photo of the plate, we will take this avenue of approach in giving it an A+ rating among top rarities! It has been in the same collection of long-standing for nigh-onto seventy years. We have seen and handled it, and some fantastic sums have been offered in efforts to purchase the lovely plate. Frank M. Fenton’s 85th Birthday plate was produced in its likeness, although the vintage plate has that special aura which none of the newer glass can boast. Seasoned collectors already realize we refer to the single-known RED HOLLY 9” plate! It is a dandy!

1. CHERRY CHAIN - 10” Red collar-based bowl - Fenton. Only one known. Found in Canada in the early ‘80s, remained in Indiana for awhile, then went into a CA collection. From there it went into a Texas collection for $18,000!

2. LOTUS LAND - Marigold - Northwood. Only one known. Standing in a food line at a convention, we asked Don Moore whether he had been able to purchase the bonbon “reasonably”. He just smiled and replied: “Of course not!” This has a collar-base. Fewer than six amethyst examples are reported. (Pattern appears on only this shape.) (Mgld. sold in ’92 for $1400.)

3. WESTERN DAISY - White 9 1/8” bowl - Dugan. Only one known. (has sold for $400.) Exterior pattern. Dome-footed and also found in scarce marigold and green.

5. 3-Row OPEN EDGE 9 ¾”plate - Fenton. One known in White. One known in Ice Blue. White example (sold for $6,000) in the late Gallo auction. Correctly termed a chop plate since it exceeds the 9 ½” designated size for “regular sized” plates.

6. OLYMPIC Small Compote - Millersburg. 3 1/8” tall. One known in Amethyst. One known in Green. (Pattern appears on only this shape.) The amethyst compote last sold for $5,000. The green compote has remained in the same collection for probably 30 years!

7. GREENGARD FURNITURE - Amethyst - Advertising - Millersburg. Five known. One single hand-grip sold in 2009 for $12,000 and three double hand-grip, along with one ruffled bowl. One DHG (sold in 2001 for $5500.)

8. LINN”S MUMS - The Ruffles & Rings exterior mould was purchased by Northwood from Jefferson about 1908. There is a single known peach opalescent Ruffles & Rings bowl which is ice cream shaped, measuring about 8 ½” in diameter. This ultra-rare Mums plunger was masterfully created but apparently never placed into production. There are only two known examples in amethyst Linn’s Mums. The first was found in the early ‘90s by the late Linn Lewis. (It sold at auction in 2000 for $2,000.)

9. TWO FLOWERS 10 ¾” Red 3-toed bowl - Fenton. There are two known marigold 11" chop plates. (One sold in 1992 for $2,000!) There are also 9” spatula footed bowls in red.

10. LITTLE FISHES 9 3/8” IC shaped White bowl - Fenton. Two known. Only one is perfect. (It last sold in 1992 for $1,000). One ice green is known. This is a three-toed bowl.

1. ROSES & FRUIT Blue bonbon - Millersburg. One known. (Sold in 1991 for $2600). One reported. This is a footed bonbon. (Pattern appears only this shape.) Other known colors: Amethyst, green, marigold. It stands 5” high.

2. ORANGE TREE footed Centerpiece bowls - Fenton. One Blue, One Green, One Marigold. One Amethyst which sold for $5,000 in (2010). The only known marigold example brought $2100. in Feb. 2011. Lack of interior iridescence reduced desirability.

3. BLACKBERRY WREATH Blue 6” sauce - Millersburg. One ruffled. One ice cream shaped. The ice cream shaped example sold in (2007) for $3800. There are several known 8-10” blue Blackberry Wreath bowls.

4. PEACOCK and URN Marigold 11” Chop Plate - Millersburg. (Sold in 1991 for $2300). Possible 3 known. At least one amethyst chop plate is known.

5. FUCHSIA Blue footed bonbon & Marigold bonbon - Fenton. Discovered in the early ‘90s. Both are cracked. (Pattern appears on only this shape.) (Sold in 1993 for $1650).

6. FERN bowl/plate (edges turn up slightly) - Fenton. One Blue, one marigold, one white-clambroth (in the Fenton Museum). The marigold sold in (2010) for $4500. (Pattern appears on only this shape.)

7. GRAPE & CABLE Fruit Bowl - Compliments of Pacific Coast Mail Order interior advertising.-Fenton. 3 Marigold and 2 perfect Blue, 1 cracked. (Advertising applied to only these bowls.) ($2800-$3700.)

8. ELEGANCE - Northwood. 3 Ice Blue bowls called Sapphire by some. 2 Ice Blue plates. 3 Marigold plates & 1 Marigold bowl. We know of an Ice Blue plate which sold for $2,000 and the first Marigold plate sold for $6,000. These pieces sit on a centrally placed domed foot.

9. HEAVY PINEAPPLE footed 10” bowl - Fenton. Marigold, amber, blue and white examples are known. ($580-$1000) have been paid for various examples. One blue rose bowl is known. Many collectors have never seen an example in the pattern. (Pattern applied to some crystal and a black water set made for Levay.)

10. GODDESS of HARVEST bowl - Fenton. When you have “enabled yourself” with at least one each of all the above, you might avail yourself of one of these? Marigold, blue and amethyst, 3/1 edge, ruffled, or CRE bowls are known. A couple of plates have been reported. They do not appear on the average auction brochure, so perhaps you can prevail upon someone you know who owns one? Just be sure you have plenty of money! (smile) A marigold example sold in (2007) at auction for $30,000. (Pattern applied only to bowls and most change hands privately.)

In conclusion: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, with desire and personal value placement entering the equation, leading to the various choices. When our individual assessments enter the picture, it’s perfectly “logical” that every example reaches a new owner when “up and going now!” …………whether selling privately or at auction. ENJOY!!