Northwood Carnival glass

Northwood Carnival glass

Like its major rival Fenton, Northwood was one of the earliest and most important manufacturers of prime, or top quality, Carnival glass produced in the United states from about 1908 until the 1920s.

Northwood Carnival glass

One of Northwoods most prolific and popular patterns was the grape and cable, which appeared on more than 40 different   pressed glass items from bowls, water jugs, tumblers, to candlesticks and hatpin holders.

Northwood Carnival glass

Skilled mould makers and pressers produced the deeply moulded crisp patterns that were often hand finished.

Bowls with hand crimped and wavy edges were the mainstay of Carnival glass, and Northwoods good look motto- ware bowl was one of its best sellers.

Northwood Carnival glass

Among the most popular Northwood items today are the elaborate punch- bowls sets, rare and sought after our the plane flat plates that show off the elaborate pressed patterns without distortion.

The staple Northwood colours are strong Cobalt blues, green, and a purple that rangers from a deep, rich hue to a pale amethyst, it is the quality of that iridescence that determines appeal, or rare colours such as smoke, Amber, and grey blue.

Northwood was the only company to mark its early Carnival glass.

From about 1909,  but not all, pieces were generally marked with an underlined capital N.

Northwood Carnival glass

This was usually set in a circle, but occasionally appeared without a circle.

In the mid-1960s American collectors rediscovered Carnival glass and it became a major collecting field.

Prime Carnival glass was and still is the most sought after, but to meet the new demands some manufacturers created new designs from new moulds, 

Factories  such  as  Fenton  and Imperial issued reproduction Carnival glass made in the original or old moulds.

I hope you have found this page on Northwood Carnival glass      to be both informative and helpful.

Pressed glass

Pressed glass

Pressed glass

The cheap and cheerful range of iridescent pressed moulded glass launched by Fenton in 1907 is now known as carnival glass and has become one of the most popular collecting areas, with prices to match.

Fenton’s original relief moulded iridescent range was inspired by Tiffany class and sometimes known as the poor mans Tiffany, pieces were produced in a range of press moulded relief designs based on animals, plants, fruit, Fenton’s staple patterns included Peacock and grape, Dragon and Lotus, rarer patterns include red panther

Pressed glass

the wide range of iridescent colours, included Royal blue, purple, and green and readily found Marigold, various shades of orange was one of the most popular.

In the 1920s Fenton introduced red, a technically demanding colour, red pieces of now rare and very much sought after.

Pressed glass

Fenton experimented with short runs, unusual colours, and shapes, all of which have added to the appeal of its glass, as does the crisp quality of the early moulds.

Such was the demand for Carnival glass in the late 1960s and 1970 Fenton began to issue reproductions from its original moulds sold as a new range of Carnival glass.

All new Carnival glass was marked with a script Fenton , in an Oval  cartouche, unlike the earlier Carnival glass pieces from Fenton which are often unmarked.

Pressed glass

Secondary Carnival glass.

As the fashion for and production of Carnival glass waned in the United States in the  1920s, manufacturers in Europe, Scandinavia and even Argentina began to produce their own Carnival glass to supply their home markets.

This so called secondary Carnival glass was still hand pressed but with less hand finishing and was made until the late 1930s.

Pressed glass

In Britain, Sowerbys glassworks and George Davison  glass, used pressed glass moulds to produce smaller ranges, mainly in Marigold, blue, and amethyst.

The Australian Crystal Glass Ltd in Sydney made most of its Carnival glass in the 1920s to compete with American imports.

Pressed glass

This Australian  Carnival glass,was made mostly in purple and orange, and had a very Australian identity with its own patterns, Australian sawn, Kangaroo, kiwi, Emu, and kookaburra, that celebrated the indigenous wildlife.

I hope you have found this page on Pressed glass  to be both informative and helpful.


you may like to see my pages on Northwood glass & carnival glass

Happy hunting from the collectibles coach.

Mobile Phone History

Mobile Phone history

Mobile Phone History

mobile phones can be a lifeline, a fashion accessory,




are a collectible evoking technologies recent past.

Since the first mobiles appeared in the early 1980s, there have been many variations, each one smaller and with more enhancements than the last.

Dr Martin Cooper of Motorola was credited with inventing the first mobile handset in 1973.

Mobile Phone History

Cellular phones were only approved for public use in 1982 in the USA, and a few years later in Europe.

Various analogue systems including ETACS extended total access communication systems were tried but found wanting.

A more secure Digital global standard GSM global system for mobile communications was introduced from 1982.

Mobile Phone History

Now mobile phones are upgraded as soon as technology or, arguably fashion changes so there is a rapid turnover in handsets.

Early mobiles can easily be recognised by their bulk and weight, for examples in good condition are now becoming desirable.

Interest is growing particularly in models from the late 1980s and early 1990s but it is not possible to tell accurately how many handsets have survived overall, are what condition most are in, which means the prices are still unpredictable.

Mobile Phone History

Market leaders such as Nokia and Motorola are likely to be most collected.

Mobile phone history  produced to promote events of films such as tomb Raider are likely to create a lively niche market.

Listed below are if few mobile phones which I think are worth taking a look at for collecting.

1990 Vodafone EB2602/7 ETACS value $8O $120.

1992 NEC P4 ETACS value $25-$35.

1987 Motorola 8500X value $75-$85.

1992 Nokia 101 value $25-$35.

1996 Siemens S6 classic GSM value 40 $60.

1992 Ericsson EH97 hotline value $20-$30.

1990 Motorola 8800X $8O $IOO.

1992 Motorola personal phone value $25-$45.

1993 Nokia 100 value $30-$50 ,

1998 Motorola Star Tac GSM value $30-$50.

1994 Nokia 2110 with mock walnut case value 40 $60.

Mobile Phone History

Top tips for collectors.

Look for landmark models that were the first to use new technology, such as the first GSM phone, or first digital handset.

Always check that the battery cover is present and that the aerial remains intact.

I hope you have found this page  on Mobile Phone history to be both informative and helpful.

Happy hunting from the collectibles coach.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

Vintage Perfume Bottles

Vintage Perfume Bottles

Perfume bottles have a powerful allure.

From the sparkling flasks of the 1900s to the doves of peace on the stoppers of post war bottles they capture the mood of the moment, with plenty of quirky flourishes to adorn the dressing table.

In the 19^th and early  20^th century, fragrances were generally light and refreshing.

They were sold in plain packaging, then transferred to more attractive cut our tinted glass bottles for use  and display on the dressing table.

In the 1920s several leading Parisian perfume s such as Coty, began to offer new perfume is in art decor bottles.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

The bottles were made by top glassmakers such as Lalique, and were designed to complement the new more sensual fragrances.

By the late 1920s many women aspired to warn a bottle of French perfume.

Paris couturiers, such as Poiret, launched the first designer perfumes to reach a mass market.

Orientalism, then a fashionable style, inspired many perfumes and the bottles, including Guerlains,

Shalimar, which was named after the goddess of Shalimar in India.

The classic Chanel number five bottle has hardly changed since 1921, so even early examples are inexpensive.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

During the 1930s streamlined modernist designs captured the public’s imagination and perfume came in minimalist bottles, such as Patous joy Surrealism also provided influential, Elsa Schiaparellis perfume shocking, introduced in 1937 was inspired by the movement and sold in bottles shaped like a dress makers dummy.

After World War II there was a taste for ladylike clothes and sweet fragrances, such as Miss Dior, which was launched in 1947.

These perfume is came in bottles reminiscent of Victorian fashions.

Tips for collectors.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

In pre-world War two bottles, look for novelty designs, are established designers, are a bottle that reflects its period.

Keep current bottles that are celebrity endorsed or innovatively designed these may become collectables of the future.

Favour bottles that are full of the original perfume, and still in the box.

I hope you have found this page Vintage Perfume Bottles to be both informative and helpful.

Happy hunting from the collectibles coach.

Ceramic Masks

Ceramic  Masks

Ceramic  Masks

ceramic  masks were inspired by the wooden tribal African face masks eagerly collected during the 1930s.

Many lovers of kitsch and past decor find this unusual form of portraiture irresistible.

It makes a striking feature on a staircase wall.

Ceramic  Masks

Unlike the tribal masks that inspired them, ceramic wall masks of the 1930s to the 1950s were given bold colours and sharp contours of the period.

Most masks were female which allowed for a full exploration of flamboyant fashions in hair make up and dress.

The most important makers were the central Europeans such as Goldscheider, Goebel, and Royal dux, based in Austria, Bulgaria, and Bohemia respectively.

Ceramic  Masks

In Britain’s the outstanding makers were Beswick, which had made its name in tableware and also produced popular animal figures, another British manufacture was J H Copa of Staffordshire, which has a reputation for domestic ceramics.

The masks often featured screen goddesses of the day such as Marlene Dietrich, Dorothy Lamour, and Greta Garbo.

 Anonymous young women were also shown modelling fashionable styles such as cropped boyish hair.

Ceramic  Masks

Masks were produced in various poses, as well as in groups, and faces often had idolised features such as arched eyebrows and Armond eyes.

The 1950s examples displayed much more highly made up faces, consistent with the post war return to glamour in woman’s fashions.

Dietrich for example, was Sean with high arched, plucked eyebrows, almond eyes, yellow hair, and on some of the Beswick models, a rakish French beret.

Ceramic  Masks

Top tips for collectors.

Look out for those desirable features.

Good quality painting and  modelling.

Ceramic  Masks

Period details including accessories, hairstyles, and make up.

Signs of ageing that suggest piece is genuine.

I hope you have found this page on  Ceramic  Masks   to be informative and helpful.

Happy hunting from the collectibles coach.