BASE PATTERNS OF OPALESCENT VASES

Geometric Design on Base of Fenton Boggy Bayou Vase, circa 1907
This base pattern distinguishes Fenton's Boggy Bayou vases
from very similar vase patterns, such as Fenton's Reverse
Drapery, and Dugan & Diamond's 's Pulled Loop.

INTRODUCTION
 

          If you know nothing about an old opalescent pressed-glass vase, sometimes the cut of the base is the feature that most helps distinguish the maker, the manufacture date and the name of the vase pattern.  Below are examples of patterns that appear on the bases of opalescent glass vases made by the following American glassworks between 1898 and 1912:  Co-operative Flint, Dugan & Diamond, Fenton, Imperial, Jefferson, Model Flint and Northwood. 

          The purpose of this guide is to allow you to make a quick tentative vase ID by looking at your vase's base pattern.  Once you have, this guide will direct you to another guide that will tell you more about your vase.  (A list of our guides also can be accessed easily by clicking on INDEX at page bottom.)

Concentric Circles
This base is found on Ribbed Spiral Vases
made by the Model Flint Glass Company, circa 1900-1902

Concentric Circles.  This pattern is a distinctive characteristic of Ribbed Spiral vases of the Albany Model Flint Glass Co.  (Information on these vases and additional photos can be found in our Guide titled  Carnival & Opalescent Glass Twins 5 - Ripple Vases.)

Geometric Design:
Jefferson's Diamond & Oval Thumbprint vase, circa 1900-1907

Geometric Design.  This design is fairly uncommon.  A complicated geometic pattern such as that shown above appears on two early opalescent American vases that we know of:  Fenton's Boggy Bayou and Jefferson's Diamond & Oval Thumbprint.  At page top is a photograph of the geometric base pattern of a  Fenton Boggy Bayou vase -- this base is the best way of distinguishing this pattern from Fenton's very similar design called Reverse Drapery (or "Cut Arcs") and from Dugan's Pulled Loop vases.  The Jefferson Diamond & Oval base shown immediately above is slightly different from the Boggy Bayou base shown at page top:  the Jefferson vase's base has a smooth central circle while the Boggy Bayou vase's base has a small many-rayed star in its center.  (Further information on Boggy Bayou vases is available in our guide Carnival & Opalescent Glass Twins 4 - Fenton Vases.  Information on Diamond & Oval Thumbprint vases appears in Jefferson Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Part A.)

Six-petal Flower
Jefferson Glass Co. Twister Whimsey Vase, circa 1900-1907
photo by rareandfair

Six-Petal Flower.  This pattern is unique to a single vase made by the Jefferson Glass Company circa 1900-1907:  the whimseyed Twister vase.  (Information on this vase can be found in our guide Jefferson Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Whimsey Vases.)

Many-rayed star within raised circlet of molded stripes:
Ray vase made by Cooperative Flint, circa 1904-1930.
photo courtesy of n_it_to_win_it

Many-rayed Star within Raised Circlet of Molded Stripes.  The Ray vase attributed to the Co-operative Flint glass company of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, is the only tall & thin vase we know of that features this base pattern. The base has two tiers. The underside of the upper, outer rim is decorated with short, closely-spaced molded stripes or "rays".  This outer rim bells outward and descends 1/4 inch to a second lower tier.  The underside of the lower tier features a circle of smooth glass around a 24-point impressed star.  Many tall & skinny opalescent vases of unknown origin that appear on E-Bay frequently are confused with Ray vases.  Thus, this base pattern is very helpful indicator of a Ray vase's identity.  Note that this pattern is different from the common many-rayed star lacking the outer circles of clear glass and rays, shown at the bottom of this page.  Only one other pressed-glass opalescent vase that we know of has a base similar to that of the Ray vase-- the Tiny Tears vase, a pattern whose maker is unknown.  The base pattern on Tiny Tears differs slightly:  it lacks a circle of clear glass around the impressed star, which has 28 rather than 24 points.  (Information on Ray vases can be found in Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Miscellaneous Vases - Part II).

Impressed Daisy:
Lattice & Points vase, Dugan Glass, 1907

Impressed Daisy.  This appears on one pressed-glass opalescent vase only -- the Lattice & Points vase issued by the Dugan Glass Company of Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1907.  Lattice & Points vases show a lattice-like pattern of intersecting lines.  The vases are usually short or hat-shaped, and are rarely pulled to tall sizes.  The vases' bases often bear an impressed flower design, as shown above.  Lattice & Points opalescent vases are generally hard to find; they appear most often in white and less commonly, in blue.  Information on these vases can by found in our Guide Carnival & Opalescent Glass Twins 3 - Dugan Vases.

Eight-petal flower
Vintage (1959-1970) Fostoria Heirloom vase

Eight-petal flower.  This vase, unlike the others discussed here, is not a Victorian opalescent pressed-glass vase.  Fostoria's Heirloom vases herald from a much later era:  they were made from 1958 to 1970.  This pattern, however, is so frequently confused with various Victorian era pressed-glass vases that we show it here.  Fostoria Heirloom vases come in many variations and sizes; the medium-sized version of this vase pattern, and the size most often confused with Victorian vases, bears the 8-petaled flower pattern shown above.  Thus, the vase is easily distinguished from Victorian vases of similar appearance.  For more information on the Fostoria heirloom vases, see our guide on tall & thin vases with panels.

Clear Base ringed by raised circles or "jewels"
Jewels & Drapery vase made by Northwood Glass Co., circa 1900-1907

Jewels & Drapery .  Issued by the Northwood Glass Company of Wheeling, West Virginia in 1907, Jewels & Drapery vases feature drapery-like folds that extend from the vase's rim to its base.  Around the base, between the columns of drapes, are tassel-like designs.  The vase's bottom edge is ringed with a circlet of raised dots or circular "jewels," surrounded by pinpoint dots.  As shown above, this ringlet of "jewels" is visible through the vase's clear, smooth base.  (Information on Jewels & Drapery vases can be found in Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Miscellaneous Vases).

Many-rayed Star:
A standard pattern on many early
American pressed-glass opalescent vases

Many-rayed Star.  An impressed many-rayed star is the usual pattern found on the bases of early opalescent pressed-glass American vases.  This pattern appears in several sizes and in stars generally numbering anywhere from 6 to 32 points.  A many-rayed star is found on the bases of  Imperial's Ripple vases; Jefferson's Heatherbloom, Iris with Meander, Lined Heart, Rib & Big Thumbprints and Wide Rib vases; Northwood's Many Ribs, Plain Panels, Tree Trunk and some (but not all) Diamond Point and Feathers vases; Fenton's Diamond Point Columns and  Reverse Drapery vases; and Dugan & Diamond's Plain Panel, Pulled Loop, Target, Ten-Thirteen, and Twisted Rib vases. The impressed stars on Dugan's Ten Thirteen vases are distinctive and thus helpful in distinguishing this pattern:  Dugan's #1013 vase always bears a star with 36 or 40 points.  To access our guides on all of these five glass companies, just click on "GUIDE INDEX" below.

Rounded Triangle with Many-rayed Star
Jefferson Tokyo Vase Whimsey, circa 1900-1907

Rounded Triangle with Many-rayed Star - The Tokyo vase whimsey is the only vase made by the seven companies featured here that has a three-sided base.  Tokyo vase bases also have a round many-rayed star pattern within the triangular shape of the base.  (Information on these vases appears in our guide Jefferson Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Whimsey Vases.)

Smooth, patternless base.  Occasionally, you will run across an old pressed glass opalescent vase that has a smooth base that features no pattern at all. Bases without patterns are an exception among the early opalescent vases made by the companies featured here.  Such bases are most commonly found on Northwood's opalescent vases.  Four opalescent Northwood vases have smooth bases:  Diamond Point, Feathers, Jewels & Drapery, and  Thin & Wide Rib.  (Both Diamond Point and Feathers vases are found, alternately, with a many-rayed star on the base.)  Fenton Plume Panels opalescent vases also have a smooth, patternless base, as do Model Flint's Many Ribs and Jefferson's Inverted Chevron  vases.  (More information on Northwood, Fenton and Jefferson vases can be found in our guides  Carnival & Opalescent Glass Twins 2 - Northwood Vases, Carnival & Opalescent Glass Twins 4 - Fenton Vases and Jefferson Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Part A.  Jewels & Drapery vases and Model Flint Many Ribs vases can be found in Opalescent Vases - ID Guide - Miscellaneous Vases.) 

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          Many thanks to E-Bayers  askcopperfish,  jkantiques2,  n_it_to_win_it  and  rareandfair  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 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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