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Imperial - Part 24
IMPERIAL – Part 24
IMPERIAL GRAPE
Imperial Grape is on a par with Northwood Grape and Cable pattern: profuse in the number of shapes! There are some 25 well-known and collected items within this Imperial #473 pattern; some more scarce - rare than others which creates a spectrum of interest followed by many collectors. One contributing factor to the popularity surrounding this pattern: most examples offer spectacular iridescence!
True BLUE VIOLET Imperial GRAPE.
Courtesy Tim McGee
Water pitcher: When Tim McGee forwarded his photos to us for identification of the base glass color, we instantly called it violet - blue! We own a Windmill water pitcher in the same color - hue. Unless viewed with direct light showing through the glass, this variation is not noticeable. Since there are some blue 6” Imperial Grape plates known, along with some Heavy Grape bowls in blue, a violet - blue hue is not un-thinkable. Such variations occur when either blue or purple molten glass is left in the pot following a run of production. More molten glass is added and until the former color runs through, there is a variation in the resultant color.
Marigold water sets are easily found. Helios is another easily found color. While purple sets bring high prices, they are not too difficult to locate. Amber, smoke, aqua, and the violet-blue are not often seen. True green base glass having strong overtones of blue iridescence, which is called emerald green is also a difficult color to locate.
Some “off-beat” colors reported in tumblers: Vaseline, lime green, ice green.
Amber Imperial GRAPE Punch Set.
Courtesy Seeck Auctions.
Punch Set: As you probably have ascertained, these amber sets are extremely rare! They might not sell at auction for quite as much as the purple sets, but those who specialize in collecting amber examples from Imperial are elated to find one of these sets! They truly are “treasures”. Marigold and purple sets are available. One bowl and base in blue has been reported. An unconfirmed bowl and base in smoke also is waiting for matching cups.
RARE Imperial Master Berry GRAPE in Mgld. over Moonstone.
5 inch Blue Imperial GRAPE deep berry bowl.
Berry Set: The small, round, deep, 4”- 5” bowl is often seen in marigold, helios, and amber. Clambroth and purple are scarce. A couple of violet examples have been reported. The example shown here is a “definite blue - violet.”
The master berry, round, deep, 8” – 9 ½ ” is easily found in marigold, helios and amber; scarce in lavender and clambroth and said to be ultra-rare in marigold over milk glass (only a couple known). Purple examples are seldom found. We believe this marigold over moonstone-(can see fingerprint through the base glass) would be quite RARE, indeed! Milk glass examples cannot be seen through.
Very Scarce Imperial GRAPE Cup and Saucer - Marigold.
Cup and Saucer: Produced as a set. The saucer is very flat with an edge that turns up. Rays accent the internal pattern. The cup is the same as the punch cup; scarce in marigold and quite rare in helios, amber and purple.
IMPERIAL GRAPE Carafe in Amber and Emerald Green.
Imperial GRAPE Carafe. Mgld.- Courtesy Debbie & Rick Graham -
Emerald Green Opal - Courtesy Wroda Auctions - $5500 - 5-8-10.
Water Carafe: Listed in Imperial Factory catalogs as a vase. However, it is shaped as a carafe or water vessel. Although identically shaped as the wine decanter, the widely flared top opening without need for a stopper, indicates use as a carafe. Very scarce in any color, with purple examples seen most often. Examples in clambroth and helios are more scarce, with emerald and smoke being rare colors. Aqua is a very rare color. Are you ready for this?...........A marigold carafe is very difficult to find! This emerald opal carafe may be a one-of-a-kind!?
Ruffled Imperial GRAPE in Smoke - 9 inch - rare color.
Bowl, ruffled, collar base-8”-9”: Marigold and helios are easily found colors; purple is somewhat more difficult. Scarce colors are clambroth, amber, and lavender. Emerald and smoke are very rare. One ultra-rare cobalt blue bowl is known. Rumors of a red example have been tossed around, but there is no confirmation of such at this writing.
Imperial GRAPE Compote in true Purple.
Stemmed Compote: Marigold is easily found. Helios examples are not too difficult. Amber is scarce. Purple compotes are quite rare, with those in smoke and olive being extremely rare!
Homemade Imperial GRAPE Lamp.
Home-made lamp: While these are not found listed among the rare items in Imperial Grape pattern, we would hope that not many are known. At times, things can go from the sublime to the ridiculous. This fits the category. Top heavy to say the least!
Marigold Imperial GRAPE 10 in. basket.
Basket: These 10” handled baskets are rather scarce in any color. Marigold turns up most often, with clambroth being somewhat more difficult to find. Smoke baskets are quite rare and to date, no purple examples are known.
Imperial GRAPE Wine Decanter and Wines - Mgld. and Purple.
Wine Sets: The hollow stoppers are next to impossible to locate, so it’s best to buy the decanter ‘intact’. Quite available in marigold and helios. Purple decanters with stopper are somewhat scarce. Clambroth and emerald sets are difficult to locate , with smoke being very rare. Wines in cobalt blue are extremely rare, along with olive examples. There are no matching decanters. Smoke, purple, emerald and clambroth wines are not easily found.
Dean & Diane Fry, 8/12
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith,
So that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - - - (1 Corinthians 13)
Should you care to contact the Frys, their email address is:
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