Well I was wrong. I DID pick up additional pieces in this pattern – little tumblers. I went into the same store – Harvest Antiques – where I had purchased the creamer and there they were. The tumblers have the same sprig of seaweed and the ‘shell’ details but they do not have any gilt. I don’t think the gilt was worn or washed away. I don’t think they had any.
I bought five tumblers. It is amazing, but they are as fresh and clean and undamaged as they were the day they were made. Someone must have loved these pieces and taken good care of them.
The tumblers are not signed or marked.
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November 19, 2015
Anothe
r oldie but goldie piece of custard glass. This pressed creamer was produced by Northwood in the early years of the twentieth century. This is the Argonaut Shell pattern, which I gather was also called Nautilus by some.
This is a very large creamer – this piece stands 4 /2 inches at the spout, is 3 inches wide at the widest point and is 6 inches from spout to handle edge. It definitely could be used as a gravy boat.
The Encyclopedia of Victorian Colored Pattern Glass, Book 4: Custard Glass from A to Z by William Heacock has a page devoted to this pattern. There were quite a number of different pieces produced. According to Mr. Heacock, the line was also produced in opalescent colours and carnival novelties.
David Doty’s site – shows pieces in carnival colours. He indicates that they were made by Dugan after Northwood’s molds were transferred. Some still have the Northwood signature (as does this piece).
The cruet stopper (shown in the book) looks very interesting – it has been formed to resemble a seashell. While the details of the seashells and seaweed are likely unique, this piece doesn’t really ‘speak’ to me and I likely won’t pick up any other pieces.
