Part II. 

Carnival and Opalescent Vase Twins from Northwood

by Curculios Glass

Twin Blue Opalescent and Green Carnival Tree Trunk Vases
photos by cabrat1961 and sunbear1224

            
          This is Part II in a series of guides on opalescent and carnival glass twins.  These guides were made possible by the many E-Bayers who came together to contribute photographs for this project.   Part I of this guide focuses on spectacular Northwood twins in opalescent and carnival glass.  Part II offers a pictorial guide to Northwood opalescent and carnival vase doubles, and Part III discusses opalescent-carnival vase twins of the Dugan-Diamond Glass Co.  Part IV focuses on Fenton vases, and Part V is dedicated to opalescent and carnival Ripple and Ribbed Spiral vases made by the Imperial and Model Flint glass companies. 

INTRODUCTION

           As noted in Part I of this guide, H. Northwood & Co. of Wheeling, West Virginia, produced opalescent pressed glass from 1902 to 1908.  Northwood issued its first carnival glass in 1908; carnival production continued until the company closed its doors in 1925.  Six of Northwood's early opalescent pressed glass vase patterns resurfaced in twin carnival glass vases:  Diamond Point,  Drapery, Feathers, Four Pillars, Thin and Wide Rib, and Tree Trunk.  These patterns are featured below.

          E-Bayers are often baffled by opalescent vase identification:  such a vast array of contemporary opalescent vases abounds that identifying the truly old pieces can be difficult.  Thus, we hope that this guide helps you identify the names and makers of old opalescent vases that might make up beautiful halves of opalescent-carnival sets of twins.  We have provided information on carnival as well as opalescent vases, noting heights, base sizes, colors and other identifying characteristics that should aid you in ascertaining what a given vase is.  Dates of manufacture for both carnival and opalescent vases are provided, since manufacture dates are not yet available on David Doty's website.

          A brief point about color names:   Opalescent glass is described as appearing in colors such as blue, green, white, canary (vaseline) and so forth.  These color names imply that the glass combines these hues with an opalescent, milky quality.  In the carnival glass world, color names such as "peach opalescent,"  "aqua opalescent," "ice blue opalescent," etc., are also used, but they have a different meaning -- all convey that the piece is iridescent as well as opalescent.  Carnival glass by definition is iridescent, and thus a piece that is solely opalescent is not carnival glass.  To avoid confusion in this guide, opalescent carnival colors will be described by abbreviated terms such as  "aqua opal" and "peach opal".

H. NORTHWOOD & COMPANY VASES

Interior of a Blue Opalescent Northwood Tree Trunk Vase
photo courtesy of cabrat1961

Tree Trunk.  Opalescent vases:  Shown at the very top of the page and directly above, Northwood Tree Trunk vases are distinguished by small knotty protrusions that seem to grow from the vases' sides; the protrusions are bracketed by short, graceful lines.  The vases have ruffled, flared mouths and stems that narrow as the vase descends.  These vases are especially exquisite in opalescent colors:   the pattern brings out well the varying transparence and milky translucence of the best opalescent pressed glass.  Issued by Northwood in 1907-1908, opalescent Tree Trunk vases range from 7" to 14" in height and bases that measure 3 1/4" in diameter.  The bases are impressed with a 30-point star and sometimes are marked with the Northwood "N".  Opalescent Tree Trunk vases appear, in order of highest value first, in green, blue and white.  Tree Trunk vases are referenced  on p. 161 of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass.  The example shown here demonstrates opalescence in vases at its finest:  while some opalescent Tree Trunk vases are opaque for nearly their full height, this vase maintains a beautiful lace-like translucence all the way to the top rim. 

Carnival vases:   Northwood first issued carnival Tree Trunk vases in 1908, and they remained in production throughout the duration of Northwood's operation.  The vases come in six sizes, ranging in height from a squat vase as short as 5" to a large funeral size of 21"; base diameters measure from 3 3/8" on squatty and standard-sized vases to an "elephant's foot" vase with a 5 1/4" base.  Funeral vases are the most valuable, and David Doty warns buyers not to accept the characterization of any tall vase as a funeral vase, unless it has the 5 1/4" base.  Carnival Tree Trunk vases come in an array of colors; the most sought after and valuable colors are aqua opal, sapphire, electric blue, white, lime green, ice green and ice blue.  Aqua opal vases in this pattern are stunning.  The less hard-to-find marigold and green vases, however, are quite handsome and make eye-catching collectors' pieces.  When purchasing Tree Trunk vases described as "white carnival," buyers should exercise caution and assure that such vases are iridescent, because Northwood also produced Tree Trunk vases in (non-iridized) clear crystal.  A transparent green (non-iridized) Tree Trunk vase also surfaced on E-Bay in January, 2008.  Northwood issued Tree Trunk vases in custard glass as well.  

Blue Opalescent and Green Carnival Diamond Point Vases
photos courtesy of  asmile4u2001  and  dftd

Diamond Point.  Opalescent vases:   Opalescent Diamond Point vases were issued by the Northwood Company in 1907, and are referenced in the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed., p. 54.  The vase pattern is created by lines that intersect tightly, creating diamond shapes.  The vase tops have 6 or 12 splayed rounded points called "flame points."  Diamond Point opalescent vases appear in blue, green and white and range in size from 8" to 14".  Green is the most valuable color in these vases, closely followed by blue and then white.  The bases of opalescent Diamond Point vases may be smooth or may bear a many-rayed star.  Some vases sport the Northwood "N" on the bottom.  Easily confused vases:  Diamond Point vases are sometimes confused with Fenton's Diamond Point Columns vases.  (For photos comparing the two, see our guide on easily confused vases.)

Carnival vases:  Northwood  issued carnival Diamond Point vases from 1912 to 1916, in at least sixteen colors.  As with the opalescent vases, the carnival vase tops have 6 or 12 splayed rounded flame points.  Heights range from 6" to  7 1/2"  ("squatty") and from 8"-12" ("standard").  Carnival Diamond Point vases tend to fetch high prices generally in comparison to most carnival vases, and exceptional prices when found in aqua opal, ice blue and ice green, emerald green, sapphire, and spectacular electric blue. The bases of the carnival vases feature a many-rayed star and, according to Carl O. Burns in Northwood Carnival Glass 1908-1925, p. 48, the bases of all true carnival Diamond Point vases measure 3 3/8".  Most bear the Northwood "N".  Although Northwood issued these vases in white carnival glass, Northwood also produced Diamond Point vases in clear (non-iridescent) crystal; thus, buyers should exercise caution to assure that Diamond Point vases described as "white carnival glass" are iridescent. 

Herringbone Pattern in White Opalescent Feathers Vase
photo courtesy of Elegant Touch Collectibles at Rubylane

Feathers.  Opalescent vases:  Opalescent Feathers vases are more than 100 years old; they were made by Northwood in 1904.  According to the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed, p. 69, most Feathers opalescent vases bear the Northwood "N".  The vases range from 6" to 12" high.  They feature panels of feather patterns separated by plain panels.  The feather patterns, upon close inspection, are series of V's tightly knit in a herringbone design.  Opalescent Feathers vases appear, in order of highest value first, in blue, green and white.  Notably, although Feathers vases were not made in the color called "canary" or "vaseline," green Feathers vases occasionally glow green under a black light; in April, 2007, such a vase was sold on E-Bay.  Easily confused vases:  Feathers vases are sometimes confused with Fenton's Plume Panels and Jefferson's Inverted Chevron vases, which both feature feather-like panels alternating with plain panels.  These two patterns are easily distinguished from Feathers on close inspection, however:  both lack the tight herringbone pattern of Feathers vases.  (To compare photographs of the three patterns, see our guide on easily confused vases with feather patterns.)

Carnival vases:   Northwood first issued iridized Feathers vases in 1909.  Carnival sizes range from 6" to 11", and bases are 3 1/2" to 3 3/4" in diameter.  David Doty notes at ddoty.com that the squatty size (under 7") tends to bring the better price, but that carnival Feathers vases are generally scarce.  The carnival vases often feature the Northwood "Alaskan" effect shown below -- a copper-marigold iridescence over green.  Early carnival Feathers vases commonly appeared in marigold.  According to Carl O. Burns in Northwood Carnival Glass, 1908-1925, p. 55, amethyst is hard to find in the Feathers pattern.  Ice blue and white examples, introduced by Northwood in 1912, are rare.   Like their opalescent counterparts, most authentic carnival Feathers vases bear the Northwood "N".  Like the opalescent vases, Northwood's carnival Feathers vases appear with two kinds of bases:  some feature a many-rayed star underneath, and others have a smooth, patternless base.  Northwood also issued Feathers vases in transparent (non-iridized) clear, blue and green glass; thus, buyers of white, green and blue vases advertised as "carnival" should assure that they are iridescent. 

     

Green Opalescent  and "Alaskan" Carnival Feathers Vases
photos courtesy of  jpthings and mmmost

Thin & Wide Rib.  Opalescent vases:  Thin & Wide Rib vases sport rod-like ribs separated by wider smooth panels, and usually have splayed, flame-like tips such as those shown on the two vases below.  Opalescent Thin & Wide Rib vases were first issued during Northwood’s early years of opalescent production, beginning in 1902, and they continued to be manufactured through 1908.  The vases are referenced on p. 154 of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed.  Opalescent Thin & Wide Rib vases appear, in order of highest-to-lowest value, in "canary" (vaseline), blue, green and white.  The opalescent blue vase depicted below is 11” tall with a 3 ½” base.  Opalescent Thin & Wide Ribbed vases are sometimes confused with Jefferson Glass Company ribbed vases, and with Northwood's Many Ribs vase.  To compare various ribbed opalescent vases, see our guide on easily confused ribbed vases.

Carnival vases:  These vases first entered carnival production in 1909 and continued to be issued by Northwood until 1925.  Although the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass calls the carnival vases "Thin & Wide Rib," the carnival pattern also appears under the name “Thin Rib” in both Warman's Carnival Glass and in David Doty's field guide.  Whichever term you prefer, the carnival vase, like its opalescent predecessor, has rod-like ribs dividing wider smooth panels.  Carl O. Burns writes in Northwood Carnival Glass 1908-1925 (where he laments that the pattern isn’t just called “Wide Rib”),  that the vase was produced in three sizes, including a funeral size of 16” to 21.”  All other sources, however, record that Northwood’s carnival Thin & Wide Rib vase is now found in two sizes only:  standard and a more valuable mid-size.  Standard has 9 ribs, a base diameter between 3 3/8” and 3 ¾” and heights ranging from 6 ½ to 11 ".  (A scarce variation, the “Jester’s Cap,” has one point pulled up.)  The mid-size vase has 8 ribs and a base diameter of 4 ¾” and ranges from 12” to 15” in height.  Thin & Wide Rib vases come in at least 18 recorded colors.  The vases are most commonly seen in marigold, green, russet (olive green), amethyst and blue, and are considered rare and valuable in amber, lime green, vaseline, ice blue, ice green, sapphire, aqua opal, blue opal and ice green opal.  Smoke, teal and electric blue vases are also fairly hard to find and fetch good prices.   A rare Thin & Wide Rib jardinière is available in purple. Transparent glass vases:  Northwood also issued this pattern in transparent (non-iridescent) clear, blue and green glass.

Blue Opalescent and Electric Blue Carnival Thin & Wide Rib Vases
photos courtesy of payrollgal and rebarb

Four Pillars.  Opalescent vases:   As shown below, Four Pillars vases have four gracefully arching rods that extend from the top to the base, separated by panels.  The rods overlap the base, dividing it into quarters and forming rounded toes.  The vases range in size from 9" to 14" and sometimes bear advertising lettering on the base.  Opalescent Four Pillars was issued in canary, blue, green and white.  Canary and blue are the most valuable, followed by green and then white.  Like the Drapery vases shown farther below, Four Pillars vases are prone to breakage in the toes, and thus a vase without any damage to its feet is a very good find.  Four Pillars vases are referenced at p. 76 of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed.  This resource does not list dates of manufacture, but the vases presumably were issued between 1902 and 1908, the period of Northwood's opalescent glass production.   As noted below, the Four Pillars pattern occasionally is confused with Drapery, but is easy to distinguish, because the wide panels of Four Pillars vases lack Drapery's draped-cloth design, and opalescent Drapery vases have three rods dividing the panels, instead of four. 

      

Blue Opalescent and Aqua Opal Carnival Four Pillars Vases
photos by  askcopperfish (left) and  rstreasures (right)

Carnival Four Pillar Vases.  When found in carnival glass, this vase pattern is called both Four Pillars and Four Columns.  Four Pillars carnival glass vases usually are credited to Northwood; however, examples exist that bear the Dugan-Diamond mark, and some Four Pillars vases are attributed to Millersburg Glass Co.  According to Carl Burns in Northwood Carnival Glass, p. 60,  Northwood produced its first Four Pillars carnival vases in 1910;  vases with an "onionskin" effect of stretch iridescence were also issued from 1916 to 1920.  Northwood's carnival Four Pillars vases are usually found in 9" to 12" sizes, but rare 5" to 7" squatty vases also exist.  The list of colors in which Four Pillars carnival vases was issued is quite long.  The vase most often appears in russet (olive green), citrine (yellowish green), amethyst, marigold, green and aqua opal.  Burns writes that cobalt blue, white, ice blue and ice green carnival Four Pillars vases are scarce, and that sapphire, teal and Renninger blue are "quite rare, while examples in vaseline with marigold overlay, ice green opalescent and lime green opalescent examples would be classed as very rare."  Ddoty.com also records that Four Pillars vases have appeared rarely in blue opal, powder blue opal, kelly green opal and custard with marigold overlay -- all are very valuable.  Doty also documents Four Pillars vases in emerald green, aqua and black amethyst.  Squat Four Pillars carnival vases are found only in marigold, amethyst, green, blue and ice green opal.  Vases occasionally appear with the advertising lettering, "Howard's Furniture," on the base.  The bases of Northwood's Four Pillars vases are otherwise smooth.  Notably, however, variations of the vases exist that have a many-rayed star on their bases; these are attributed to the Millersburg.  Millersburg's Four Pillars vases have a radium finish and have appeared on E-Bay in green.  Four Pillars vases are also found in transparent (non-iridescent) colorless crystal and custard glass.

Blue Opalescent and Marigold Carnival Drapery Vases
photos by jkantiques2 (left) and curculiosglass

Drapery.  Opalescent vases:   Drapery vases are among the most difficult to find and valuable of Northwood's old opalescent vases.  This pattern is elegant and striking.  As noted above, Drapery vases are similar in form to Four Pillars vases:  Drapery vases feature wide panels divided by rods; the rods descend from the top of the vase to the bottom, overlap the base and terminate in rounded toes.  Opalescent Drapery vases, however (such as the blue one shown above) have three supporting rods instead of four.  In addition, unlike Four Pillars vases, Drapery vases have a distinctive design on the panels, which resembles folds of draped cloth.   Opalescent Drapery vases were manufactured in blue, green, canary (vaseline) and white.  Green vases are the most valuable, followed by canary and blue, which are equally valuable, and then white.  The vases are an excellent find in any opalescent color.  Opalescent Drapery vases are referenced on p. 60 of the Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass, 5th ed.  This source gives no specific information on vase heights, but Drapery vases typically are under 10" in height; the above example is 7 5/8" tall and has a 3 1/8" base.  Unlike Northwood's other vase patterns, Drapery was not restricted to vases:  the pattern also appeared on rose bowls and table, water and berry sets.  According to William Heacock in Opalescent Glass from A to Z, Northood issued the Drapery pattern in opalescent glass circa 1905.  Opalescent Drapery vases often bear the Northwood "N".  

Carnival vases:   This is not a rare pattern in carnival glass, but it is one of the most beautiful.  According to Schroy in Warman's Carnival Glass, Northwood produced the Drapery pattern in carnival from 1914 to 1916.  Vases range in height from 7" to 9"; a limited number of rare 5" vases also were issued.  Like the blue opalescent Drapery vase shown above, carnival Drapery vases generally have three rods dividing panels. A "Footed Variant" with four rods and four toes also exists; so does a Drapery vase without feet, called simply "Drapery Variant".  Burns notes in Northwood Carnival Glass 1908-1925 that on the footed Drapery vases, "the little protruding 'nub' feet on the bases are highly prone to nicks, chips and slivers.  Precious few are examples with absolutely perfect foot protrusions" (p. 50).  Thus, Drapery vases without foot damage are an excellent find. According to Burns (p. 50) the most frequently seen colors in carnival Drapery vases are marigold, white and ice green, closely followed by ice blue.  Aqua opal is a more common color in Drapery vases than in most carnival patterns, but aqua opal Drapery vases still fetch high prices and are very popular -- for good reason -- the color sets off the Drapery vase's stunning design very well. Amethyst Drapery vases are less common than marigold, white and ice green (see SECG, 11th ed., p. 327), while, according to Burns, cobalt blue and green vases are hard to find.  Burns writes that other colors, such as sapphire, lime green, aqua and teal, "could all be classified as rare".   Ddoty.com also records that carnival Drapery vases exist in vaseline, Renninger blue and powder blue opal -- all of these fetch high prices.  Northwood's production of the Drapery pattern was far more limited in carnival than in opalescent:  the company issued, in white carnival only, vases, rose bowls, berry dishes, tumblers, and a triangular candy dish shaped from the vase mould.  A note about reproductions:  Fenton reproduced the Drapery pattern in 3-footed rose bowls, but carnival Drapery vases have not been reproduced.  Some caution should be exercised, however, in purchasing white carnival vases to assure that they'e iridescent; Northwood also issued a scarce Drapery vase in (non-iridized) clear crystal.
 

Other Northwood Opalescent Vase Patterns

Jewels and Drapery.  Northwood issued this pattern in opalescent vases in 1908.  Recently, one specimen of the pattern was found in carnival glass.  (See SECG, 10th ed., at p. 149. ) The vase is 16" tall and is made of emerald-green glass with radium iridescence.  Photos of Jewels & Drapery opalescent vases appear in our guide titled Miscellaneous Opalescent Vases (1898-1912).  It is additionally notable that Northwood's opalescent Many Ribs vase, also found in that guide, is similar to its later Fine Rib carnival vase.  Finally, Northwood's well-known carnival footed vase pattern, Daisy & Drape, has a rare opalescent counterpart; the SEOG reports that there are only three known Northwood opalescent versions of this pattern; all are in canary. 

To read Part III, on Dugan opalescent-carnival vase doubles, click the link below.

Guide Table of Contents

2. Northwood Vases                3.  Dugan Vases                      4. Fenton Vases                5. Imperial Ripple Vases

______    o   ______

          Many thanks to E-Bayers  askcopperfish,  asmile4u2001,  cabrat1961,  dftd,  jkantiques2,  jpthings,  payrollgal,  rebarb,  rstreasures  and  sunbear1224 for generously contributing photographs to this part of our guide.  Special thanks to Elegant Touch Collectibles at rubylane dot com, for their photograph of the white Feathers vase.  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-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.  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VOTE ON THIS GUIDE BY PRESSING THE BUTTON BELOW.   To see all of our guides on opalescent & carnival glass, go to GUIDE INDEX.