Twigs vase - Twigs vase reproductions - Tiny Twigs vases - Twig Bud Vase - Dugan vases

Dugan Carnival Glass Tiny Twigs Vases
and Diamond Twig Bud Vases (1898-1907)
Originals, Reproductions & Frauds, Part II

 

A  rare 3 1/2" Dugan amethyst carnival
Tiny Twigs vase, circa 1909-1910

photo by *treasurehunter*

         This guide is part of a series on early pressed-glass vase patterns that appeared in both opalescent and carnival glass.  To see our other guides, click on "GUIDE INDEX" at the bottom of the page.  These guides are made possible by the many E-Bayers who have contributed photographs to this project.  Please leave feedback by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

History of Carnival Glass Tiny Twigs and Twig Bud Vases

           This is Part II of a two-part guide on opalescent and carnival glass Twigs vases made by the Northwood and Dugan/Diamond Glass companies from 1898 through 1931.  Part 1  focuses on opalescent vases, and this section provides information on later carnival Twigs vases.    As noted in Part I, opalescent Twigs vases were issued at the turn of the century by two Indiana, Pennsylvania glassworks:  the Northwood Glass Company, from 1898 to 1903, and the Dugan Glass Company, from 1906 to 1907.  

         Thereafter, beginning around 1909, Dugan briefly produced a carnival glass version of Twigs vases, known as Tiny Twigs. Carnival Tiny Twigs vases are now considered to be quite rare.  Carl Burns writes that the carnival vases' rarity indicates that they were "probably not in production for very long. With their open twig base design, there were likely molding problems and a lot of breakage"  (Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass, 1909-1931, p. 142).  Burns speculates that the molds for Tiny Twigs vases may have been destroyed in the Dugan factory's devastating 1912 fire. 

          After Diamond Glass took over Dugan following the fire, the Tiny Twigs pattern did not reappear.  Instead, Diamond issued a tall, thin variation called the Twig Bud vase, which remained in production from 1916 through 1931. Twig Bud vases are common in marigold carnival glass and less common in amethyst; amethyst reproductions appear frequently on E-Bay.

          Examples of carnival Tiny Twigs  and Twigs Bud vases are shown below.  Both opalescent and carnival Twigs vases have have been reproduced.  To aid buyers and sellers in identifying vases, photographs of reproduced vases are also included in this guide.  Buyers should be aware that items depicted in E-Bay ads to the right of this guide may or may not be properly described genuine vintage glass.  Such ads are run by E-Bay and are not part of this guide.

Dugan's Carnival Tiny Twigs Vases

   

A rare 3 3/4" Dugan amethyst carnival Tiny Twigs vase
with a crimped, Jack-in-the-pulpit top

photos by rabbitgem

         As noted above, the Dugan Glass Company issued Tiny Twigs vases in carnival glass circa 1909-1911.  The vases are quite rare and fetch high prices on E-Bay.  Like their opalescent predecessor, the Twigs vase, carnival Tiny Twigs vases feature a body perched on twig legs that connect to a circular base. There is nevertheless one notable difference between the opalescent and carnival vases.  The ealier opalescent vases appear in two sizes, a short 4 1/2" -  5" height, and a taller 6 1/2" - 7 1/4" height.  Dugan, however, issued the carnival vases only in the smaller size.  All examples we have seen of carnival Tiny Twigs vases are 3 1/2" to 5" tall and have bases that measure 2 1/8" in diameter. 

Shapes and variations:  Carnival Tiny Twigs vases appear with a variety of edge treatments.  Like the very-hard-to-find example shown at the top of this guide, carnival Tiny Twigs vases may have a three-cornered or three-ruffle shape.  Vases also may feature crimped Jack-in-the-pulpit tops, as shown directly above.  Such mouth treatments tend to shorten the vases, and are in part what gives carnival Twigs vases their diminutive appearance.  As noted in this guide's Part I, in producing opalescent Twigs vases, Dugan reserved such effects for the tall sizes only.

David Doty records that, among Tiny Twigs vases, the Jack-in-the-Pulpit shapes are most valuable.  Carl O. Burns, however, writes that  "the Jack-in-the-Pulpit shape is considered the rarest and most desirable, but virtually any shape is a rare treasure" (see Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass, 1909-1931, p. 142).  Tiny Twigs vases also appear with straight-up sides and at least three mouth variations:  round and not flared; rounded and slightly flared; and rounded and crimped.  Examples of the first two of these variations of Tiny Twigs vases can be viewed at David Doty's website (round/not flared:  ddoty.com/twigs.html), and also at the website Carnival Heaven  (rounded and flared:  carnivalheaven.com/carnivalglass103/id58.htm#tiny_twigs).   A crimped mouth is shown below:

Detail of a carnival Tiny Twigs vase with a crimped mouth
without a Jack-in-the-pulpit treatment.

photo by oxbeetle

Colors:  All carnival glass Tiny Twigs vases we have seen are amethyst in color.  Carl O. Burns writes that "the amethyst examples rightfully deserve the praise bestowed upon them.  The quality of the iridescence is often quite stunning, exhibiting brilliant, electric highlights" (Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass, 1909-1931, p. 142).  Original amethyst vases typically are a dark hue close to black amethyst and have a heavy iridescence that renders the coloring nearly opaque. 

According to Burns, Tiny Twigs vases were issued in marigold as well.  Burns relates:  "Amethyst receives all the raves and attention, but there are probably fewer marigold examples known" (Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass, 1909-1931, p. 142).  It is notable, however, that there are no documented (photographed) examples of the vases in marigold.  The website Carnival Heaven questions whether marigold vases were in fact ever made (see carnivalheaven.com/carnivalglass103/id58.htm#tiny_twigs).  One author of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed., additionally writes that he has seen a "strange tortoise-shell-over-marigold example that must have been an experimental item" (p. 163). 

David Doty also has documented carnival glass Tiny Twigs vases with straight-up sides in other colors.  An aqua opal specimen of one such vase is shown at David Doty's website (see ddoty.com/twigs.html).  Doty also records sales of other straight-up sides Tiny Twigs carnival vases in wisteria, which is a light muted lavender; and in purple, a carnival color that is deeper than amethyst, a little like the color of grape juice.  However, as noted below, there is some controversy about the authenticity of such vases.

Tiny Twigs Reproductions and Frauds:
Vases with straight-up sides

A 5" white opalescent (non-carnival) Twigs vase with straight-up sides:
Some authorities have questioned the authenticity of carnival vases in this shape.

photo courtesy of curculiosglass

Part 1 of this guide shows reproduced Twigs vases made in opalescent glass by L. G. Wright, and provides information on the distinguishing traits of such reproductions.  Wright issued ruffled-mouth Twigs vase reproductions in opalescent glass and milk glass.  Wright also produced transparent-glass reproductions with straight-up sides and three pulled-up ruffles; these are shown in the next section of this guide page.  The existence of molds used to make such reproductions of course raises the possibility of the molds' use in making carnival glass Tiny Twigs vases.  Carnival vases whose authenticity has been questioned are noted below.

Peach opal carnival straight-up sides Tiny Twigs vases:  Authorities seem to be in agreement that iridized peach opal Tiny Twigs vases with straight-up-sides -- that is, in the shape shown above --are fraudulent.  The authors of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed., write that white opalescent Twig vase reproductions are "being iridized to create copies in peach opal.  The old vase was never made in this treatment" (p. 228).  

Carnival vases with straight-up sides generally:   The website Carnival Heaven notes that other carnival colors of Tiny Twigs vases with straight-up sides have been reproduced.  This website argues that straight-up-sides Tiny Twigs vases such as those documented at David Doty's website (including a pricey aqua opal vase) are not genuine vintage carnival.  For reasons noted below, we partly agree and partly differ with Carnival Heaven's assertions:  we believe that iridescent amethyst reproductions have been issued, but that pieces documented at David Doty's website appear to be genuine.

The website Carnival Heaven notes that old Twigs vase molds are now in the possession of contemporary glassmakers.  The website convincingly documents examples of iridized amethyst Tiny Twigs vase reproductions with straight-up sides and Terry Crider signatures (see carnivalheaven.com/carnivalglass102/id121.htm and carnivalheaven.com/carnivalglass102/id103.htm).  There is no evidence, however, that Terry Crider ever purchased Twigs vase molds; instead, available resources indicate that he iridized already existing glass pieces.  

Terry Crider is an interesting contemporary artisan who began working with carnival glass in 1967; Crider has issued "custom iridized" glass to order and has sold limited quantities of iridized glass to wholesale dealers.  Authors Glen & Stephen Thistlewood write in A Century of Carnival Glass that Crider began buying glass from L.G. Wright in the late 1970's and early 1980's, which he then treated with an iridizing process (pp. 198-199).  (As noted in Part I of this guide, L.G. Wright is a company known for its glass reproductions, which operated from 1937 to 1999 in New Martinsville, West Virginia.) 

Terry Crider's straight-up-sides Twigs reproductions feature a distinctive attribute of L.G. Wright's opalescent reproductions:  the bark design on the vases' bases extends only halfway to the base rim.  Thus, available evidence indicates that Terry Crider's Twigs vases are iridized examples of L.G. Wright Twigs vase reproductions.  (Part I of this guide shows base bark designs on originals and reproductions.)

Notably, however, the aqua opal straight-up-sides Tiny Twigs carnival vase shown at David Doty's website (ddoty.com/twigs.html) bears the hallmark of the original vases:  the bark pattern on the base surface covers the entire base.  Thus, unlike Terry Crider's vases, Doty's documented aqua opal example does not appear to be an iridized version of an L.G. Wright reproduction.  As noted, Doty also records at his website the existence of purple and wisteria carnival Tiny Twigs vases.  Photographs of these are not provided at the website; given Doty's expertise in identifying carnival glass, however, we expect that the wisteria and purple straight-up sides vases observed by Doty most likely bear the hallmarks of originals as well.

It might be interesting to measure the base sizes of controversial carnival glass Tiny Twigs vases.  We have noted in Part 1 that on L.G. Wright reproductions of large opalescent Twigs vases, the bases are larger than the bases on the originals.  In addition, we note below that the bases of transparent glass reproductions of small vases measure 2 3/8".  Original small opalescent Twigs vases and carnival Tiny Twigs vases both have base diameters of 2 1/8". 

Transparent Glass Tiny Twigs Vase Reproductions

L. G. Wright Twigs vases in transparent glass:
a tall 6 1/2" amber vase with 3 pulled-up ruffles and 3 corners; and
a small 4 1/2" blue vase with straight-up sides and a slightly flared mouth.

photos courtesy of polesitter2  (left) and curculiosglass

L.G.Wright issued transparent-glass Twigs vase reproductions in at least two sizes and with at least two different mouth treatments.  L.G. Wright Glass, by Bredehoft, Jones and Six, features photographs of L.G. Wright's large Twigs vases like the one shown above left -- with three ruffles and three pulled up corners -- in both green and amber transparent glass  (p. 92).  The same reference shows small 4 1/2" vases like the blue vase above right -- with straight-up sides and slightly flared mouths -- in purple, green and amber transparent glass (p. 176).

These L.G. Wright vases have bases larger than those found on Northwood and Dugan original Twigs vases.  The 6 1/2" amber vase shown above left has a base measuring 3" (instead of the 2 3/4" base diameter of original large vases).  The 4 1/2" blue vase shown above right has a base measuring 2 3/8" in diameter (instead of the 2 1/8" base diameter of original small vases). Both the large and small transparent vases shown above share other hallmarks of Twigs vase reproductions:  the bark patterns on the vases' bases cover only part of the base surface; there is often a webbing of glass between the vase body and legs; and moldwork on the body and legs is less detailed than on the Northwood and Dugan originals.

Diamond's Carnival Twig Bud Vases

 

A 9" amethyst carnival Twig Bud vase
photo by custdev

According to carnival glass authorities Carl O. Burns and David Doty, carnival Twig Bud vases are far more common than Dugan's earlier Tiny Twigs carnival vases.  The Diamond Glass Company issued the The Twig Bud vase in 1916, and Burns writes that it was "a near-permanent fixture in the wholesale catalogs from its initial appearance in 1916 right up until the Diamond factory closed in 1931"  (Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass 1909-1931. p. 144).  

a Dugan Twig Bud vase ad from a 1916 Butler Brothers catalog, with detail.
The ad describes the vases as  "9 to 11" in., rustic foot representing tree roots, fully finished crystal,
crimped tops, 1 1/2 doz. clear, 1 1/2 doz. with amber iridescent top".

Basic Design and Size:  Diamond's Twig Bud vases were made from different molds than Tiny Twigs vases and differ both in design and size.  Twig Bud vases have a narrow body perched on three twig feet, six panels and a narrow mouth with six rounded points, and are much taller than Dugan's Tiny Twigs vases.  Although several authoritative sources list Twig Bud vases as ranging from 7" to 9" in height, the above advertisement affirms that Twig Bud vases were manufactured in sizes as tall as 11".   

Colors:  Twig Bud vases are usually found in an iridescent marigold that fades to clear glass about halfway down the vase.  Far less common are amethyst examples of the Diamond vases.  Burns writes that iridescent amethyst Twig Bud vases "are quite scarce and will often sell at 8 or 10 times the price of the marigold".   It is notable, however, that David Doty records at his website that original marigold vases tend to sell in the $10-$15 range, while their original amethyst counterparts sell for a modest $35 to $50 (see ddoty.com/twigs.html).  Nevertheless, buyers should be aware that amethyst reproductions appear frequently on E-Bay.

Twig Bud vase Reproductions 

Legs on amethyst bud vase reproduction:
Note the glass webbing between the vase and vase body.
photo courtesy of curculiosglass

Twig Bud vase reproductions tend to appear on E-Bay in purple or "amethyst".  As shown above, Twig Bud vase reproductions may have tell-tale glass webbing between the vase body and legs.  On some reproductions, however, webbing is only partial and difficult to see in the small photographs that often appear in E-Bay listings.  A few other features can help distinguish reproductions:  base size; the quality of the mold work; and a lack of iridescence in purple vases.  The base on the amethyst reproduction shown above center is oversize -- 3" instead of 2 1/4", and the mold seams on the base are prominent.  The bark pattern on the upper surface of the base runs only halfway to the rim, and mold work is of poor quality.   Finally, many vases sold on E-Bay as "carnival amethyst" Twig Bud vases lack iridescence and are made of transparent purple glass -- since carnival glass by definition is iridescent, such listings are erroneous and offer reproductions, not originals.

Occasionally, "lavender" or "lavender-marigold" carnival Twig Bud vases appear on E-Bay.  On such vases, lavender may not have been the original coloring.  The clear portion of marigold Twig Bud vases is subject to purpling if left in the sun or subjected to ultraviolet radiation.  Purpling occurs as a result of a chemical reaction caused by manganese dioxide decolorizers in the glass.  Additional information on "purpled glass" can be found in our glass glossary.

Click here to return to Part 1, which is about opalescent Twigs vases.

Many thanks to E-Bayers custdev, rabbitgem  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) 2008 curculiosglass, all rights reserved.  To locate any E-Bay seller mentioned here,  just click on "Site Map" at the bottom of your E-Bay screen, and then click on "Feedback Forum" at the right top corner of the large menu that pops up.  Type or copy the seller's name into the Feedback Forum's search blank. PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK ON THIS GUIDE BY PRESSING THE BUTTON BELOW.   To read our other guides on carnival and opalescent vases, click on GUIDE INDEX.