Inwald’s Decorama – on the trail of South American copies

Thanks to Maria Lorena Piotrowski, Buenos Aires - "divinnecollection" on eBay - for use of her photos.

Decorama tumblers in blue Carnival appeared on the market in 2008 and 2009, yet Inwald’s Carnival production has only been known in marigold, although there is a suggestion in Inwald's catalogues that perhaps a pale blue iridescence may have been used on some later pieces (such as Aiglon).

However, the likely answer seems to be that Inwald’s Decorama pattern was actually copied by one of the South American Carnival Glass makers, who are well known for making blue Carnival. Evidence for this lies not only in the blue colour, but also in the shape and pattern of the Decorama items that have been found in South America. The shape of the Decorama water pitcher found in Argentina is not the same as the Inwald original; the handle is totally different and there are other small variations. We can also see some subtle differences in the patterns on the tumblers: on the Inwald original, the vertical lines in the pattern meet in a V shape above the foot while on the tumblers that we believe are South American copies, the same vertical lines go down onto the foot without meeting in a V. The pictures below clearly show these differences.

We know that there were many links between Czechoslovakia and South America and that the glass companies perpetuated those links through trade connections and more. The Inwald and Rindskopf companies merged in the early 1930s (although each kept their separate identities) and shortly afterwards, one of Josef Rindskopf’s sons (Sherman) actually went to live in South America.