Northwood (Wheeling, West Virginia)

Harry Northwood (the eldest of ten children) was born in Stourbridge in 1860, to a family that lived and breathed glass! His father was the celebrated John Northwood, who was famed for his work in cameo glass, in particular his creation of a replica of the Portland Vase. Trained in art and well versed in glassmaking in England, Harry Northwood emigrated to the USA in 1881 where, after six years further experience in the glass industry, he established his first factory in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio. But it was at Northwood’s subsequent glassworks in Wheeling that his famous Carnival Glass was first issued in 1908.

Harry Northwood was a master colourist, renowned for his fabulous aqua opals and mouth-watering pastel colours. Many of the patterns that emerged from Northwood’s glass works at Wheeling have become iconic – symbolic of the very essence of Carnival. The Peacocks and Rose Show patterns and the delightful Town Pump all epitomise the classic quality and top-notch design associated with Northwood. But for many years there was a niggling problem: the Rose Show and Poppy Show patterns could not be firmly and positively attributed to Northwood.

Then, in 1999, we came across this 1913 ad from Baltimore Bargain House.

An array of Northwood's Carnival in a wholesaler's ad wasn't a new phenomenon - we've all seen plenty of Butler Brothers' ads showing Peacocks, Good Luck and more. But until we brought this Baltimore Bargain House ad to light, the attribution of Rose Show and Poppy Show to Northwood had only been based on strong evidence. And that evidence was always circumstantial. The famous N trademark does not appear on either of Rose Show or Poppy Show (no doubt because the marie design wouldn't accommodate it), so the patterns had been attributed to Northwood mainly on account of the colours they are known in. But here, in this fabulous trade ad, is the proof positive that Northwood was the maker of these two lovely designs.

Patterns shown in the ad, from the top and left to right: Four Pillars vase; Hearts and Flowers compote; Poppy pickle dish; Grape and Cable handled bonbon; Fine Cut and Roses footed candy dish; Rose Show bowl; Bushel Basket; pie crust edge Hearts and Flowers bowl; ruffled Peacocks bowl; Peacocks plate; Lattice and Poinsettia bowl; Poppy Show plate.

Harry Northwood died suddenly in 1919 and although production at the factory limped on for a few years, the guiding light was gone and the Northwood glass works closed in 1925.

Visit the Northwood picture gallery