Carnival and Opalescent
Ripple and Ribbed Spiral Vases
from the Imperial and Model Flint Glass Companies

by Curculiosglass


       

A blue opalescent Ribbed Spiral vase made by Model Flint Glass (left),
with Imperial Ripple vases in blue opalescent (center) & aqua carnival (right)

photos by curculiosglass and (right) *treasurehunter*

INTRODUCTION

            The Imperial Glass Company's Ripple vases are among the most highly collected pieces of early American carnival glass, and for many reasons:  Carl Burns writes in Imperial Carnival Glass that "The variety of sizes, colors and shapes in which the design is known is one of the most extensive in the entire carnival glass field."  In addition, Ripple vases are stunningly beautiful.  In Warman's Carnival Glass, Ellen T. Schroy has described them as resembling the "the ripple created when dropping a pebble into a pond".  As shown in the above photograph, Ripple vases are characterized by a spiraling line that coils from the rim to the bottom of the vase, and a graceful, vertically-ribbed stem that narrows slightly at mid-height.  

           Many glass collectors are familiar with the iridescent Ripple vases the Imperial Glass Company produced during the carnival glass era.  The carnival Ripple vases, however, derived their pattern from earlier opalescent glass pieces manufactured long before first carnival glass production lines were launched in 1907.  This short guide provides identification information about early opalescent Ripple-patterned vases made by the Model Flint and Imperial Glass Companies, and shows how they evolved into the popular carnival Ripple vases.  The guide also provides information on carnival Ripple vases.
 

Model Flint's Ribbed Spiral Opalescent Vases

Model Flint's mini, standard and tall Ribbed Spiral vases, circa 1900
photos by medieval_woman (center) and curculio's glass

          Any discussion of Imperial's Ripple vases has to begin by mentioning an early interesting precursor from the Model Flint Company:  the Ribbed Spiral vase.  For many years, the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass omitted opalescent Imperial Ripple vases from its pages because, as the authors graciously confess in the fifth edition, they simply did not believe such vases existed:  they assumed any opalescent vase called an Imperial Ripple was really a mislabeled Ribbed Spiral vase manufactured by the Model Flint Glass Company. 

          The Model Flint Glass Company was a short-lived glassworks whose production years just barely extended into the Twentieth Century.  Model Flint Glass opened in 1888 in Findlay, Ohio, and in 1893, the company relocated to Albany, Indiana.  (Accordingly, Model Flint Glass is often referred to as "Albany Glass".)  In 1900, the Model Flint plant became part of the National Glass Company.  Before closing in 1902, Flint/National produced a number of opalescent patterns, among them Ribbed Spiral.  

           The Ribbed Spiral pattern first appeared as an unnamed pattern in an assortment of  "Novelty Opalescent" vases in a 1902 Butler Brothers wholesale catalog.  The catalog advertised a featured vase as "a six-inch large tall celery holder" available in "rich opalescent colorings in 3 delicate colors:  blue, flint, and canary opalescent."   According to Ron Teal's Albany Glass, more than half a century later Dr. Ruth Herrick gave the pattern the name "Ribbed Spiral" in the May, 1953 Antiques Journal, after finding glass shards bearing the pattern at a glassworks site.

           Referenced on p. 131 of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed., Ribbed Spiral  vases were made in the three sizes shown above:  a mini or "squat" vase measuring 4 1/2" to 7"; a standard vase ranging from 8" to 14"; and a tall or "funeral" vase, measuring from 15" to 21".  All have bases that are 3 5/8" in diameter.  The vases appeared in clear glass, as well as in "flint" (white), blue and canary opalescent.   "Canary," commonly called "vaseline," is a greenish-yellow color resulting from the mixing of uraninium dioxide into molten glass.  Canary Ribbed Spiral vases show pronounced fluorescence and glow bright green under a black light.  The mini and tall vases in the above photographs are canary opalescent, and the center standard-size vase is blue opalescent.  

          Ribbed Spiral vases are widely collected, especially in the canary color.  The most sought-after sizes are in the funeral vase range, and tall canary Ribbed Spiral vases often fetch high prices.  Occasionally, vases appear on E-Bay that combine colors:  a blue vase may have a canary opalescent base.  When held to light, such vases display impressive fiery red opalescence:  excellent photographs of a Ribbed Spiral vase held against sunlight can be viewed in our glass glossary under "opalescent glass".

          As shown in the photographs above, Ribbed Spiral vases have both ascending concentric rings and vertical lines like the later Imperial carnival Ripple vases.  Ribbed Spiral vases tend to widen slightly at the top and have some folding or subtle ruffling around the top rim.  They are thus easily distinguishable from the later Ripple vases, which show pronounced widening at the top, and have flared mouths with large ruffles.  In addition, Ribbed Spiral vases all possess one characteristic that makes the pattern simple to identify --  the underside of the base of a Ribbed Spiral vase shows a series of tightly fitted concentric rings:

Bases of Model Flint Ribbed Spiral vase (left)
and Imperial Ripple vase (right)
photos by curculios glass

Additional photographs of Model Flint's Ribbed Spiral vases can be viewed in our ID Guide to Miscellaneous Opalescent Vases.

The Imperial Glass Company's
Opalescent  Ripple Vases

  

A scarce Imperial blue opalescent Ripple vase, circa 1904-1909
photographs by curculiosglass
         

          The Imperial Glass Company of Bellaire, Ohio, organized in 1901 and began producing its first glass in 1904.  Although this company is best known for its carnival glass, from 1904 to 1909 Imperial produced a very limited number of opalescent glass patterns, among them the Ripple vase (shown above).  Ripple is the only Imperial opalescent vase pattern to resurface in later carnival glass production, with the exception of Beaded Block (called Frosted Block in carnival), a  pattern used on footed celery vases.

           Opalescent Ripple vases are referenced in the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass's fifth edition at p. 133 and its sixth edition at p. 126.  (For reasons noted below, however, we believe that the vases shown in the SEOG are reproductions.)  The SEOG does not offer a date of manufacture for opalescent Ripple vases.  Nevertheless, since Imperial made its first glass of any kind in 1904, there's no question that Model Flint's Ribbed Spiral vase predates Imperial's Ripple pattern.  It thus seems reasonable to assume that Imperial was inspired by the Model Flint pattern.  By 1904, Model Flint had closed down;  when Imperial picked up the spiral vase pattern, Imperial improved on it, giving its vases a more elegant shape and adding the flared, ruffled mouth.

          A scarce blue opalescent Imperial Ripple vase is shown in the above photograph.  This vase is 9" tall with a 2 3/8" base diameter.  The underside of the base sports a 16-point star.   Opalescence is heaviest in the spiraling line that ascends from the base to the top.  This spiraling line is slightly raised, and can be felt on the outside of the vase, especially near the rim.  Vertical lines extend from the base to the opening.  These ribs can be felt in the interior of the vase, but not on the exterior.

          We have seen opalescent Imperial Ripple vases in blue only.  The SEOG's sixth edition (p. 126) reports that Imperial's opalescent Ripple vases can be found (in order of highest value first) in canary, blue, and green; the authors write that they suspect white vases must exist as well.  We believe that the SEOG's information is incorrect:  to date, there are no documented examples of either green or white opalescent Ripple vases.  Nor have we seen vaseline opalescent Ripple vases that have proven, upon inspection, to be genuine early Imperial vases.  As noted below, we believe that the photographs of blue and canary opalescent Ripple vases that appear in the fifth and sixth editions of the SEOG mistakenly show reproductions.

Opalescent Ripple Vase Reproductions

Opalescent Ripple vase reproductions:
The white spiral on each of these vases looks as if
it was applied after manufacture, and the glass underlying
the spiral is transparent; on true opalescent Ripple vases,
both the vase body and the spiral show a milky translucence.

              Buyers should note that imitations of opalescent Ripple vases exist:  two of these are shown above.  Both have bases measuring 3 1/2 inches; the blue vase is 13" and the vaseline vase is 11".  Such reproduced vases also have appeared on E-Bay in heights measuring 8 1/2" with 3" bases.  In photographs that lack detail, the imitations look almost identical to opalescent Ripple vases featured in the fifth edition of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass (p. 133), and in the SEOG's newer sixth edition (p. 126).

              When viewed directly rather than in a photograph, the imitations appear substantially different from genuine opalescent Imperial Ripple vases.  In the blue and canary imitations we have seen, the spiral of opalescence that winds around the vase looks as if it were added on after manufacture:   the spiral has an embossed look -- almost as if it were sprayed on.  The spiral is pale and slightly grainy in texture while the body is smooth and a distinctly darker color.  The spiral on the blue vases is pale milky blue, and on the canary vases it is pale milky yellow.  The vase body under the spiral, however, does not show opalescence or milky coloring:  the underlying vase body is transparent colored glass. The blue vases are an unusual, slightly violet blue, rather than the light blue characteristic of Victorian pressed-glass opalescent vases.

              In genuine pressed-glass opalescent vases of the early 1900's, opalescence was achieved by adding bone ash to the molten glass mixture, and/or by repeatedly firing layers of glass until they took on an opalescent or "milky" quality:  thus, the opalescence is an integral part of the glass.  On genuine opalescent Ripple vases we have viewed, such as the blue one shown at the very top of this section, the opalescent spiral that winds up the vase is part of the glass body; the spiral is the same smooth texture as the vase's body, and is a subtly lighter, milky shade almost indistinguishable in color from the body.  The vase's mouth is also rimmed with opalescence.  The vase body under the spiral is translucent and milky in color, and when held to a light, the vase shows a strong fiery reddish opalescence from base to rim.   

         
       
Imperial's Carnival Ripple Vases

Interior of electric purple Imperial carnival Ripple vase
photo by chermay777

             As noted in our other guides, carnival glass production was launched in 1907 by the Fenton Art Glass Company, which invented a process of spraying glass with metallic salts that gave it an iridescent luster.  According to Carl. O. Burns in Imperial Carnival Glass, Imperial began manufacturing carnival glass two years later.  A 1910 advertisement from The Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman featured pictures of Imperial's carnival Ripple vases and proclaimed that the "lustrous iridescent glass is fascinating to the point where a woman will part with her last dollar" to own one of the vases featured.  The ad continued, "they're the most wonderful bits of art glass for utilitarian purposes ever produced."

            Ellen Schroy notes in Warman's Carnival Glass that Imperial's production of carnival Ripple vases centered in a two-year period, 1910-1912.  The Ripple vase's shape and its combination of vertical and spiraling lines are especially effective in setting off the iridescence of carnival glass.  The interior view of the spectacular electric purple Ripple vase above well illustrates Schroy's description of the pattern as imitating the ripples created by a pebble dropped into a pond.

            Carnival Ripple vases are found in a vast array of colors.  Ddoty.com records sales of Ripple vases in amber, aqua, light blue, dark blue, clambroth, green (helios, lime and olive), lavender, marigold, purple, red, sapphire, smoke, teal and white.  According to Doty's field guide, the most valuable and sought-after colors in Ripple vases are aqua, lavender, lime green, sapphire, smoke and vaseline, all of which are scarce.  Blue is also unusually rare in this pattern.  Only one known specimen exists in red.  Notably, Ripple vases were not made in carnival's "opalescent" colors such as peach opal, aqua, opal, etc., or in ice colors such as ice green and ice blue, which are available in many other carnival vase patterns.  Buyers considering white and green "carnival" vases should read the note at the bottom of this guide about white and green vases;  Imperial also issued these colors in transparent (non-iridescent) glass. 

Carnival Ripple vases, circa 1910-1912 
in marigold (left) and teal with pastel highlights (right)

photos by curculiosglass

             Carnival vases vary in the manner in which the ripple design is displayed and interacts with iridescence.  In some vases, the spiraling line is prominent, while in the taller, more stretched versions, the spiral may be subtle and best discerned by viewing downward into the vases.  David Doty writes that "Some have been swung in such a way that the ripples almost disappear, leaving the interior vertical ribbing the most obvious feature."  For example, in the photograph above of the teal vase, the concentric rings are barely visible.  By contrast, the ribbing of the marigold carnival vase also shown above is pronounced in a way more typical of Ripple vases.  

              Imperial's carnival Ripple vases, like the earlier Model Flint vases, come in an array of heights ranging from 5" to 18".  Vase sizes are characterized as mini, small, standard, large and funeral.  According to David Doty, the size of a Ripple vase hinges on the diameter of its base rather than its height:  mini Ripple vases have 2 1/2" bases; small and standard have 2 1/8" - 3 1/2" bases; large have 3 3/4" to 4" bases; and funeral have 4 3/4" bases.   The rarest size is "large," although funeral vases tend to fetch the highest prices on E-Bay. Imperial's carnival Ripple vases bear a many-rayed star like that shown above on the blue opalescent vase.  Carl O. Burns writes in Imperial Carnival Glass, p. 122, that the bases of mini vases bear a 16-point star, funeral vases a 24-point star, and the other sizes a 20-point star. 

   Contemporary Reissued Carnival Ripple Vases:
marigold, smoke and pink vases

Pink Ripple vase reissue, circa 1970's
photos courtesy of curculiosglass

           Caution should be exercised in buying marigold and smoke carnival Ripple vases, because Imperial re-issued Ripple vases in these colors during the 1970's.  Imperial also re-issued Ripple vases in a color never used in Imperial's older vintage Ripple vases -- pink.  Ddoty.com reports that the re-issued vases are easily distinguishable, because all have 4" bases that bear Imperial's "IG" -- or the vases may bear the "LIG" logo, because in 1972, the Lenox company purchased Imperial glass and added the "L" to Imperial's logo.  The LIG mark was used until 1981.

              Re-issued carnival Ripple vases are nevertheless considered collectible.  David Doty's website features a collection of pink carnival Ripple vases belonging to Robert Thistle (ddoty.com/thistlepink.html).  These vases are quite attractive; they have a pastel iridescence and a bright finish.  Robert Thistle remarks that he has heard that pink Ripple carnival vases were issued for one day only, for a several hour period.  Thus, pink Ripple vases may be in short supply.  Pink Ripple vases were made in various heights, shapes and top treatments.  All are marked "LIG".  The vase featured above is 14" high.  It shows subtle aqua, pink and gold iridescent highlights and bears a gold-and-black paper label that reads "Imperial hand crafted glass by Lenox".

              Buyers should note that many marigold and smoke Ripple vases sold on E-Bay are originals.  Originals lack the Imperial logo and have bases that vary from the 4" width.  For example, the marigold Ripple vase in the photograph at the top of the preceding section is old carnival glass:  it has a many-rayed star base without a maker's mark, and the base diameter measures 3" inches.  

Transparent White and Green Vases

         A brief note on Imperial's transparent glass Ripple vases.  Buyers should keep in mind that Imperial issued plain Ripple vases in transparent "crystal" and green glass.  These vases are not iridescent -- they are simply clear glass.  "Crystal" Ripple vases are colorless/white, and are referenced on p. 237 of The Standard Encyclopedia of Pressed Glass, 5th. ed.  In design, Imperial's transparent vases are identical to the company's early opalescent and later carnival vases. Thus, when buying Ripple vases listed on E-Bay as "white carnival" (which can be pricey), be sure to ask whether the vases are iridescent; carnival glass is iridescent by definition.  The clear vases appear frequently on E-Bay, in three base sizes and several heights.  Although transparent green Ripple vases are not documented in the SEPG, a squatty transparent green Ripple vase appeared on E-Bay in 2007.  The vase was 7 3/4" tall with a 3 5/8" base and fluoresced bright green under a black light. 

Guide Table of Contents

1.  Introduction         2. Northwood Vases          3.  Dugan Vases        

4. Fenton Vases        5. Imperial Ripple Vases

          __________________ o  _____________________

          Many thanks to E-Bayers  chermay777,  medieval_woman  and *treasurehunter*  for generously contributing photographs to this guide.  Rights to all photos belong to the photographers, and pictures should not be used without their permission.  Text is (c) 2007, 2009 curculiosglass, all rights reserved.  To contact any E-Bayer whose name is mentioned here, or to visit his or her store, simply click on "SITE MAP" on the bottom of your screen, and then click on "Feedback Forum" on the right top corner of the screen that next appears.  Type or copy the E-Bayer's name into the search blank.  

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