The Peoples Vase is a massive piece; statuesque, immediately imposing, and exceptionally rare. Indeed only ten or so are known - while the existence of at least one more is rumoured. The vase was made in amethyst, green, blue and marigold - the moulded design features figures dancing, and it has been speculated that they are representations of the Millersburg Amish. The photo (left), courtesy of Jackie Poucher, shows one of the amethyst vases, all of which have ruffled tops (the other colors are not ruffled).

One of the early researchers into Millersburg's fabulous Carnival Glass was Jack Wilson. In 1982 the Millersburg Collection of Jack and Liz Wilson was sold at a Burns auction in Ohio. Given to attendees of the auction was a copy of Wilson's updated "Millersburg Research Notes" - one of which we own courtesy of Ray Steele. In the notes is a detailed log, up to 1982, of the ownership of the famous Peoples Vases. This history is now widely known, and others, such as Marie McGee, have written extensively about both the vase and, of course, Millersburg.

Possibly the best documented example of the Peoples Vase is the blue one. In Jack Wilson's Research Notes he states that one blue vase is known, but remarks that another is rumoured yet not confirmed (and this is still the case today). Wilson's history shows that the first documentation of the blue Peoples Vase was in 1963 when it was sold by Max Penny at an antique show in Wichita, to Emma Schrader for $75. Four years later, in 1967, Mrs Schrader consigned it to auction, and John Woody sold it for $1,350 to Charles Thrawley. Just two years later it doubled in price when it was sold at Thrawley's auction for $2,700 to a private collector in California.

Auctioneer John Woody entered the arena again in 1973 when he bought it for $4,500 from the Californian. He promptly doubled his money when he then entered it into his own auction in the summer that year and sold the blue vase to Jim Mogg for $8,100. Five years later, in 1982, the blue vase was sold at another Woody auction to Floyd and Cecil Whitley for $5,000. At that point Jack Wilson's notes ended - as did the ambulant nature of the blue vase. It then resided in the same place for around 20 years.

Two amethyst Peoples Vases sold at auction in 1996: one was perfect and sold for $43,000, the other was cracked and sold for $13,500.

Just a few years ago the blue Peoples Vase was purchased by the Binghams for a reported $75,000. It was shown at the 2004 St. Louis wwwcga Convention, where we had the privilege of holding it (and Glen did not want to give it back - see photo, right).