|
The
following article is the fourth and final in a series written by American
carnival glass collector Bob Grissom. It is reproduced with Bob’s kind
permission.
Original Carnival Glass
Makers – Imperial Glass Company
by Bob Grissom
 The Imperial
Glass Company started production in 1904. From the start until 1909 they
only produced clear crystal pressed glass. The founder of the company was
an Edward Muhleman, a river boat captain, who was related to the Fentons.
Imperial at first specialized in high quality, clear pressed table glass
and household wares, ie, table sets, water sets, and berry sets.
Some of their first customers were F. W. Woolworth, McCrory’s and
Kresge’s. They followed closely as the consumers taste changed, and in
1910 they started the manufacture of what we now call carnival glass.
Some of their early advertisements used the terms ‘rubigold’, ‘helios’,
and ‘azure’ to describe their colours of iridized glass. The
present day collector now refers to their ‘rubigold’ as marigold, and
their ‘azure’ as blue. Their ‘helios’ usually refers to those pieces made
with a light green coloured base glass with a silvery iridescence.
 Carnival glass
colours known are amber, amethyst/purple, blue, clambroth, green, helios,
marigold, smoke, teal, red, and white. A few other colours may be found
but would be considered very unusual. The colours found most are
amethyst/purple, helios, and marigold. Many patterns were made in amber,
green, and smoke, but they are not plentiful. ‘Azure’ was one of
the early advertised colours, but items in blue are not easily found.
Imperial’s blue is considered scarce to rare. Some few pieces were made
in red, probably the most sought after items are the large footed fruit
bowl, and the ‘Double Scroll’ three piece console set. Clambroth is a
colour that is almost exclusive to Imperial items, even though it is a
scarce colour. It is not one that gets a lot of attention. Items in teal
and white are very limited, and would be considered rare.
In
the mid to later part of the 1970s many of the Imperial patterns were
reproduced. These reproductions caused the carnival collector to lose
some interest in Imperial glass. It has only been within the last few
years that collectors have started to show an increased interest,
especially in the amethyst/purple items.
 Some of the
Imperial patterns that have gained in popularity, in all colours, and
demand respectable prices are ‘Chatelaine’ water sets, ‘Chrysanthemum’
& ‘Homestead’ plates, ‘Cone & Tie’ tumblers, ‘Crucifix’
candle holders (see photo at top left of this article), ‘Hattie’ chop
plates & rose bowls, ‘Loganberry’ (see photo at top right of this
article) & ‘Poppy Show’ vases, ‘Shell’ & ‘Shell and Sand’ plates
(see photo at left), and ‘Thumbprint and Oval’ and ‘Three Row’ vases.
Other patterns, in certain colours, are also in demand. The ‘Zipper
Loop’ lamp (see photo at right below) was made in three different sizes
plus the one with the finger loop (see photo at left below). They are
very collectable. The two most common patterns are the ‘Imperial Grape’
and ‘Lustre Rose/Open Rose’. Even so, some of these are rare in certain
shapes and colors. The six inch amethyst/purple ‘Imperial Grape’ plate
and the nine inch amethyst/purple ‘Imperial Grape’ and the ‘Lustre Rose’
plates are scarce to rare.
  During the
carnival glass period Imperial used only three trademarks, ‘NUCUT’,
‘NUART’, and the ‘Imperial Cross Mark’. These were only used on a few
pieces, are rarely found, and do not add to the value. Many, but not all,
of the reproduced pieces will have the ‘I’ pressed into the glass over a
‘G’. (Ed: Later examples will have an ‘L’ over an ‘I’ over a ‘G’, and
even later ones will have the ‘ALIG’ mark).
A
good Imperial Glass reference book is ‘Imperial Carnival Glass
Identification and Value Guide’ by Carl Burns.
|
