Riihimaki's Amazon Women vase

It's often said that there is nothing new in life, no new thing under the sun.

Carnival Glass is no exception. The number of different patterns is well over a thousand, probably over two thousand, maybe even approaching three thousand, with recent advances in research and discoveries being made in Scandinavia, Europe, South America and India. Undoubtedly, many patterns and shapes were inspired or influenced by the styles and trends of the time; but other forms of glass, other patterns, and undoubtedly, other manufacturer's ideas, all played their part. This is one of the aspects of Carnival that we look at in our new book  "The Art of Carnival Glass" - and in one intriguing section we take a look at some specific examples of design links and influences, as well as outright plagiarism, on the development of Carnival Glass patterns. Northwood's Tornado vase, Imperial's Open Rose and Nu-Art Homestead designs, Millersburg's Seacoast pintray, Dugan's Nautilus - you'll be able to find out where the inspiration for these designs and others may well have originated.

One amazing example of inspired design is this superb "Amazon Women" vase (currently the only example known) made by Riihimaki of Finland. The vase was illustrated in Riihimaki's 1939 catalog, but could well have been made in the decade leading up to that date. The example known is on an amber-pink base glass and has a rich, deep marigold iridescence. It stands 8 inches high and the mouth is 5 inches across. At first glance, the onlooker is reminded of Rindskopf's "Classic Arts" or "Egyptian Queen" items. But look again - the iridescence is much richer and deeper than usually seen on the Rindskopf pieces. The vase is taller and wider - more statuesque. But then look.....just look at the fabulous two inch wide, richly iridized, pattern band. The figures are highly detailed and feature lightly clad warrior women, holding spears and shields or wielding bows and arrows. Between each female figure is a sinuous band of stylized leaves. 

There are four different female figures repeated around the splendid vase. Three of them are shown above, and the fourth one is below, left.

So, what was the inspiration behind this vase?

The answer is undoubtedly provided by a study of Bohemian glass from around 1920/1925 - as the inspiration for this example of Riihimaki's Carnival was surely Moser's "Fipop" Amazon pattern range which featured their trademarked "Oroplastique" decor. This technique was developed by Leo Moser and was an acid etched band colored in olive green and dark red-brown, with a gold band above and below. Moser's items were made at their Karlovy Vary glassworks in Czechoslovakia. Bowls, vases and other items were made by Moser featuring an acid-etched band of Amazon warriors.

In the photos below, you can see a detail of the pattern band on the Riihimaki Carnival example on the left. On the right is a detail from a Moser piece: the inspiration is clear.

Below right, is a splendid Moser bowl in the "Fipop" (Amazon) pattern and left, a detail of the "Oroplastique" decor. This item (and the information on Moser's glass in this article) is reproduced here courtesy of Sindelar & O'Brien Antiques & Design, Inc.