howeenterprise.com
Monday, February 22, 2016
Page #10
Learn about antiques and collectibles with Dr. Georgia Caraway
Q. What can you tell me about my purple Taffeta Glass candy dish? I think there is a mark on the bottom that looks like an “N” or “M.” A. I am fascinated that you called your piece “Taffeta glass” rather than its better-known name Carnival glass. Carnival glass is pressed iridized glass manufactured between 1905 and 1930. Iridization is achieved by a spray process of a sodium solution on the surface of the glass before firing. It was made in the United States, England, Denmark, Argentina, France, Germany, Australia, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, and Finland. It was supposed to be an inexpensive competitor to Tiffany glass for the average American household. It could be mass produced at a fraction of the cost of Tiffany. There are almost 1,500 patterns, many shapes, and a great variety of colors. Carnival colors include; marigold, green, blue, purple, clambroth, amethyst, white, clear, red, aqua opalescent, peach opalescent, ice blue, ice green, amber, lavender, and smoke. The pattern of your lidded candy dish is called Grape and Cable and is by the Northwood Company. Harry Northwood worked for Hobbs, Brockunier of Wheeling WVA; La Belle Glass in Bridgeport, Ohio; and Buckeye Glass in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio. He founded the Northwood Company in 1896 in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Harry Northwood’s father was a renowned glassmaker for Stevens and Williams English glassworks. Harry Northwood went to National Glass Company in 1899, but in 1901 became an independent again by forming the Harry Northwood Glass Company of Wheeling, WVA. He marketed his first carnival glass in 1908 and it became its most popular product. The Northwood mark is an “N” in a circle. Northwood died in 1919 and the company was closed by 1923. Collecting carnival glass has been popular since the 1950s. Unfortunately many pieces are being reproduced. Some good reference guides are Bill Edwards’ Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass and The Carnival Glass Collector’s Price Guide by Marian Klamkin. We have several Carnival Glass books for sale at Howe Mercantile. At first I thought your piece was a candy dish, but neither of the books list that item for Northwood Grape and Cable. After studying each description, I have determined that you have a sweetmeat compote with lid. Edwards lists this piece for $165, Klamkin for $225. Either way, it is a sweet deal. Dr. Georgia Caraway, former director of the Denton County Museums for 14 years, and her friends opened the Howe Mercantile at 107 East Haning. Store hours are Thursday through Saturday noon until 8 p.m. She has written four Denton history books and has finished a 5th history about the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo that will be published in August. She hopes her next book will be the history of Howe. PLEASE SHOP LOCALLY. We can show you Howe!
© 2015 The Howe Enterprise
