Topic: Northwood Good Luck Bowl...oddity or imposter? Ceramic.

[Glen]

Here are a couple of photos of my Northwood Grape & Cable piece. The glass is Northwood's "Antique Ivory" - aka custard (there is no iridescence on this piece, but I have had custard items with light iridescence, known to collectors as "Pearl Carnival").

This item has a light brown stain / tint, known as "nutmeg." This "brown stain" was introduced circa 1914, while "blue and pink backgrounds were available somewhat later" (ref. "Harry Northwood: The Wheeling Years", Heacock, Measell, Wiggins).

The plate shown has a typical Northwood Basketweave pattern on the back. It is N marked.

A useful aid to recognition is that Northwood's Ivory has an opaque green glow under UV / black light.

Glen

[Anne]

Thank you for posting the pics Glen, that is interesting. I don't recall seeing anything quite like it before. It does look rather ceramic-like doesn't it?

[Glen]

It does look rather ceramic-like doesn't it?

Yes indeed - much like Sowerby's Ivory Queen's Ware etc., etc., (witness the name "vitro-porcelain"  )

Glen

[Ohio]

I have a few NW unusual Custard pieces that I've accumulated which later went to the carnival line. Ken

[Glen]

Stunning! Thank you for sharing those photos.

(btw., I will stand to be corrected but, re. timeline, I think the Carnival versions nudged in first).

[Ohio]

Glen I have been under the impression that Custard Grape Arbor & Grape & Cable were both produced prior to 1908, Grape & Cable was introduced in 1906. Both lines Custard/Carnival did run side by side for several years (discounting pearlized Custard in 1914 which differs from stained Custard) so I based my comment on which type was introduced first, Grape & Cable Custard in 1906. I have always gone by Bill Heacock's Custard reference dating, but perhaps more current information is now available.  Ken    

[Glen]

Hi Ken - this aspect of Northwood's glass is not something I have studied closely, and I have not done any research into it myself, so I certainly make no claims here. I'm going by the section in "Harry Northwood The Wheeling Years" (Heacock, Measell, Wiggins) p 172: "The first Ivory articles in 1914 may have been gold decorated, but a brown stain was introduced within a few months, and blue and pink backgrounds were available somewhat later."

Same book, p 68, notes that Grape Arbor was made after 1914 in Ivory Glass "including some interesting pink stained items" which are then referenced by illustration to figs 764-765 on pages 128-129. In those illustrations are photos of nutmeg stained Grape & Cable items (including a plate like the one I showed earlier in this thread) and several pink and blue stain items (including a G&C punch bowl with blue stain and a Grape Arbor pitcher with pink stain that appears to be the twin to yours). The explanatory text notes: "These Grape and Cable items c. 1914, have the original decoration, a brown stain called 'nutmeg' today. Other articles may be gold decorated or have pink or blue stain."


Glen

[Ohio]

Hey Glen. I'll take a stab at what i think the date(s) conflict may be.  In Heacock's Encyclopedia of Victorian Colored Pattern Glass: Book IV : Custard Glass, pg 21 it states "Northwood Grape, this particular pattern was made in custard beginning in 1906, receiving popular market response & later underwent even greater production in carnival glass." My local library has the Harry Northwood Early Years, 1881-1900 by Heacock, Measell & Wiggins & frankly I've only scanned over it so I'll check it out. Sounds as if the color plates maybe copies of ones Heacock used in his VCPG Book IV on custard by what you are saying. I'm now inclined to believe (from what you've said) that because Heacock's VCPG Book IV has a publishing date of 1976 compared with Harry Northwood The Early Years of 1990 that the later reference is more accurate, namely because its associated with James Measell & Wheeling was (and still is) his backyard so to speak, therefore his contributions/research to the Northwood book would be more accurate. Heacock went it alone publishing his books in the beginning & I have heard that perhaps his research was faulty at times so this may well be the problem. Thanks for the tip Glen, I'll check it out. Ken