European Top Ten Carnival Glass
We
had an e-mail from the President of the International Carnival Glass Association (ICGA - see Links): "Can you do an
article to select and rank your "Top Ten pieces of European Carnival Glass"?
You’re kidding! Can’t we
choose thirty or fifty, maybe? Or perhaps we can do the Top Ten English pieces, or the Top Ten Brockwitz pieces.
There were around twenty different Carnival producers in Europe and we have to choose only TEN
pieces? They were serious, so we had to rise to the challenge, but it was far from easy. Our
selection was published in the December 2009 edition of ICGA's magazine, "The Pump".
European Carnival Glass is
arguably a fairly recent tour de force on the Carnival Glass scene. By “recent” we mean in the collecting
sense only. With regard to the start of its production however, it is actually close to Classic Carnival, as proven
by the 1915 Brockwitz catalog which shows Curved Star and Rose Garden items in iridised form. Because of its
comparable “Johnny Come Lately” status on the collector market, it is very difficult (in fact often downright
impossible) to establish accurate information on availability and value. And of course, there are constant
discoveries! Our research, contacts and travels around Europe have added not only fresh information, but also
previously unknown patterns and makers.
It’s virtually impossible to put
dollar prices on many of these items and just as impossible to tell you with absolute accuracy how many examples
are known. Suffice it to say that some of the items listed below are “priceless” as we feel sure the current owners
would not part with them for love or money. Add on the fact that there is not yet a robust record of established
auction prices for much European Carnival (an item changing hands for a small sum one year may realise a vastly
higher amount the following year and vice versa) and you’ll understand why it is almost impossible to benchmark
values. Our selection criteria for the Top Ten cannot therefore be reliably based on accurate dollar values.
Instead we have ranked our selection by the following criteria (in no specific order): beauty and desirability,
rarity, skill and artistry of the design, overall style and impact, significance and iconic status and yes, likely
values.
The numbers currently known for
each of the items in our Top Ten are very small, typically less than ten and in several cases fewer than five. We
have mentioned numbers personally known to us; but we recognize that the emerging status and knowledge surrounding
European Carnival means that there are surely examples “out there” that we are not currently aware of.
In reverse order, our Top Ten of
European Carnival is:
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#10 Diving Dolphins,
Sowerby. Ruffled bowl, aqua-teal
Just one example
of the Diving Dolphins is known to us in this beautiful and rare Carnival color for Sowerby. The
mould for this distinctive and unusual piece was originally made in the 1880s: it was subsequently
used for Carnival production in the 1920s at which time a Scroll Embossed interior (a direct copy
of the Imperial pattern) was added.
Read more about Sowerby here.
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#9 Sublime
Deco, Libochovice. Candlestick, pastel and frosted on clear
The sensuous,
sweeping curves of this fabulous candlestick epitomize pure Art Deco style. Confirmed by the Czech
glass maker Libochovice as their 1920s iridized production, this rare beauty (one currently known
in the single candlestick form, two known in the double form) has a breathtaking, pastel
iridescence that is also partly frosted.
Read more here.
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#8 Diana the Huntress and Golden Cupid
set, probably Zabkowice. Master berry and small dishes, marigold and clear crystal
Received wisdom
dictates that these two patterns were sold together, comprising an eight inch Diana master berry
bowl and six accompanying four inch Golden Cupid small dishes. (It’s just possible that a large
size Cupid also exists, but we have never seen one and cannot verify it). We’ve included this set
in our Top Ten because of its sheer beauty, astonishing mouldwork, rarity (very few complete sets
are known) and constant desirability. A single Golden Cupid, below left, may be
within the grasp of many collectors, Diana the Huntress, right and below right, is rare indeed,
and a complete set of these Top Ten beauties is as rare as hen's teeth.
 
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#7 Drapery
Variant, Inwald. Decanter set, marigold
A full set,
comprising six tiny drinking glasses plus a magnificent decanter (wine carafe) is undoubtedly rare.
What makes it so special besides its rarity? Two things: firstly, the extraordinary quality of the
iridescence (always top notch from Inwald and frequently with this pattern, a shimmering peacock
marigold that takes your breath away) and secondly, the remarkable artistry of the decanter’s
design.
The name behind
Inwald’s stylish, always elegant, vast array of patterns was the talented and prolific designer,
Rudolf Schrötter. Arguably a genius, Schrötter a true master of design,
possessed a rare ability to adapt pattern themes to a multitude of different forms and
functions.
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#6 Any
Brockwitz three-part epergne
Showy,
impressive and big, these magnificent table centrepieces are rare and sought after in any
pattern.
Curved
Star,shown on the right, is possibly the most available, but don’t be fooled by the use
of the word “available” – there are probably less than ten currently reported. Harder to find are
the Tartan and Eurostar epergnes.
Each of these
splendid centerpieces comprise a base, central plate and epergne trumpet; marigold is currently the
only Carnival color they are known in.
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#5 Inca vase,
probably Libochovice. Any color
Like its
“sister” vase, the Seagulls, this show-stopper is the embodiment of Art Deco design.
Its angles,
lines and textures are displayed to great effect by the massive size of this bulbous vase, which
measures a phenomenal thirty two inches in circumference at its widest point.
Just a few of
these beauties are known in deep purple and one is known in blue.
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#4 Giant
Kulor vase, Eda Glasbruk. Marigold or blue
The Giant Kulor
at ten inches high, towers over its small and mid-size “sisters” (that stand six and eight inches
respectively). Its design, epitomized by reflective pools of iridescent light and color, is simple
yet strikingly effective. The Kulor vase has an iconic status being the first European vase to
reach giddy heights at auction.
Although more
examples have surfaced in the smaller versions, the Giant Kulor is a rare find indeed and we believe there are probably three blue and three marigold examples
of this splendid vase known to collectors today.
With thanks to Joan Doty for her
photograph of the 3 splendid vases.
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#3 Seagulls
vase, probably Libochovice. Vaseline or aqua
The distinctive
essence of Art Deco design is epitomized in this magnificent and exceptionally beautiful
vase.
The stylized
seagull shapes (enclosed by typical Deco motifs) wrap around its showy, bulbous form.
Rare in any
color, but currently known in low, single figures in vaseline and UV reactive aqua (fewer than five
in total).
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#2 Royal
Swans, Sowerby. Amethyst or marigold
Sowerby used
their original 1880s mould for very limited 1920s Carnival production of this astonishing piece of
glass. The complex and intricate mould (inspired by the work of the renowned illustrator Walter
Crane) is magnificently crafted and itself became the inspiration for subsequent swan items from
Westmoreland.
We are aware of
around five or six examples of the Royal Swans, in both the UK and Australasia.
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#1 Jesus
Candlestick, Brockwitz. Marigold
The Jesus
Candlestick is a work of art; its exquisitely detailed mouldwork takes the breath away. In rich
marigold, typical of Brockwitz’ high quality, this iconic beauty is rare indeed. We currently know
of three perfect examples (two others are mutilated and are missing the entire sconce; one of these
has a later metal replacement).
A companion
Maria Candlestick is also known.
Read more here.
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Honorable
Mentions
The above Top Ten list was a challenge
to create, and frankly there are many other
pieces that could arguably be included in the Top Ten. So we also have an alphabetical list of pieces that we
rate as being truly fabulous! There are sure to be some we have inadvertently missed.
See them here.
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