This is the fourth in our series of guides on easily confused early pressed-glass opalescent and carnival vases (1898-1912).  This guide features mold-pressed opalescent vases with ribbed patterns.

Quick ID Guide to Easily Confused
Ribbed Opalescent Vases
    

A canary-yellow Fenton Fine Rib vase, possibly circa 1912:
Note the narrow band around the vase rim, which distinguishes
this pattern from other opalescent ribbed vase patterns.

photo by oxbeetle

Introduction

          Between 1900 and 1912, American glassworks issued a variety of ribbed vase patterns in pressed opalescent glass.  Such patterns include Fenton's Fine Rib vase; the Jefferson Glass Company's Lined Heart, Twister and Big Rib & Thumbprint vases; and Northwood's Many Ribs  and Thin Rib vases.  If you find a vase below that resembles the one you're trying to identify, click on the purple link under the photograph:  the link will take you to one of our opalescent glass guides that provides information on the vase.  

Photographs  of  Ribbed Vases

A blue Northwood Many Ribs vase, circa 1902-1908, 
with a canary-yellow Fenton Fine Rib vase, possibly circa 1912:

photos courtesy of curculiosglass (left) and oxbeetle 

Fenton's Fine Rib.  On first glance, this very rare opalescent pattern can be confused with Northwood's opalescent Many Ribs vase.  As shown above and at the very top of this guide page, however, these two patterns are easily distinguished.  Fenton's Fine Rib vase has a 1/2" inch band that circles the top of the vase just below the rim.  The Northwood Many Ribs vase, by contrast, lacks this band -- on the Northwood vase, the ribs run to the very rim of the vase.  The Fenton Fine Rib vase shown above stands 10 1/2" tall, and has a smooth, patternless base with a diameter of 2 7/8".  More information on Fenton Fine Rib vases can be found in our guides on Fenton canary-opalescent glass and on Fenton vases.

  
    

A white opalescent Northwood Thin Rib vase, circa 1902-1908,
with a blue opalescent Northwood Many Ribs vase, circa 1902-1908.

photos by stlouisredbirds (Many Ribs) and curculiosglass

Northwood's Thin Rib vase is confused occasionally with Northwood's Many Ribs.   As shown above, Thin Rib vases feature thin ribs separated by wider panels.  The ribs terminate in pulled up points.  By contrast, Northwood's Many Ribs vases have very thin, uniformly spaced ribs that run from the rim of the vase's mouth to the very edge of the base.  The mouths are lightly ruffled.  Many Ribs vases are the opalescent precurser of Northwood's well-known carnival Fine Rib vases.  When viewed from above, the interior of opalescent Many Ribs vases is sometimes entirely smooth, as shown above center; occasionally, however, the ribbing is visible on the interior as well as the exterior.  More information on both the Thin Rib and Many Ribs patterns can be found in our guide on Northwood carnival & opalescent twin vases.  Both of these vase patterns are also confused with Fenton's Fine Rib vase; see information below on the Fenton vase.

Detail photo of  Jefferson Lined Heart vase
photo by curculiosglass

Jefferson's Lined Heart.  As shown directly above, Lined Heart vases feature ribbed panels separated by clear panels that terminate in a teardrop-shape at the base.   Lined Heart vases were made by the Jefferson Glass Company in 1906-1907.  More information on these vases can be found in our guide on Jefferson ribbed vases. 

    

Rib & Big Thumbprints vase, Jefferson Glass Co., 1907
photos courtesy of grannys142

Jefferson's Rib & Big Thumbprints vases feature wide panels separated by ribbed panels.  In shorter vases, large oval thumbprints can be seen on the wide panels, but in taller vases, such as the one shown here, the thumbprints may be quite stretched and at times difficult to see.  The best way to identify these vases is by counting the number of ribs in the ribbed columns:  as shown above, right, each ribbed panel features a column containing exactly four ribs.  Information about Jefferson's Rib & Big Thumbprint vases can be found in our guide on Jefferson ribbed vases.  

 

Twister vase whimsey, Jefferson Glass Co., 1908
photo by curculiosglass

Jefferson's Twister vases have striped panels that alternate with plain panels bordered by ribs.  The narrow stripes on the striped panels are slightly slanted, rather than perpendicular to the ribs; this effect is most visible near the mouth of the vase, as shown above. Twister vases also have a distinctive 6-pointed star design on the base.  Information on these vases and a picture of a vase's base can be found in our guide on Jefferson ribbed vases. 

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Many thanks to  grannys142, oxbeetle,  rebarb  and  stlouisredbirds,  for generously contributing their 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 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 YOUR VOTE ON THIS GUIDE BY PRESSING THE BUTTON BELOW.  This causes the guide to rise higher in the E-Bay guides index, so that E-Bay buyers can find it more easily. 

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