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by Glen and Steve Thistlewood What comes into your mind when you
think of Australian Carnival? Do you think of the rich dark
iridescence that was often used? Or perhaps the stately shapes
of the elegant comports and float bowls? Maybe. But most likely
the images that will first come into your mind are the
delightful Australian flora and fauna - the kookaburra,
kingfisher and kangaroo - the waratah blooms and the dainty
Christmas bells. In this feature we’ll show you some of these
splendid patterns, along with some fascinating details along the
way.
First - who made Australian Carnival Glass? One factory alone
is considered responsible - the Crown Crystal Glass Company
(previously Crystal Glass Ltd.,) who were located in Sydney, New
South Wales. Their Carnival was primarily made in two colors -
marigold and “dark” (which ranges from purple to a dense black
amethyst) both typically with excellent, rich iridescence. Rare
examples of aqua base glass with marigold iridescence are known.
In a Crown Crystal catalog from 1929, their Carnival items are
divided into two categories: Iridescent and De Lustre - quite
possibly equating with marigold and “dark”. It is thought that
iridizing probably began at Crown Crystal in 1919, (although the
first designs were not registered until 1923) and continued
until the early 1930s.
The shapes generally found in Australian Carnival are bowls
(both large and small) and compotes or cake stands, while other
shapes, for example, the swung vases, water sets, sugars and
creamers, are found less frequently.
KOOKABURRA
The Kookaburra is a native Australian bird and the symbol of
New South Wales. It’s the largest of the world’s Kingfishers and
is sometimes called the “Laughing Jackass” as it has a
distinctive and extraordinary laughing note that is said to be
one of the most familiar sounds of the Eastern Australian Bush.
In Carnival Glass, the Kookaburra is available in a 9” master
berry bowl, as well as the 5” nappy or berry and a magnificent
11” float bowl - the pattern was registered in 1924. The actual
interpretation of the pattern varies according to the different
sizes of bowl, but the basic design concept remains constant -
the delightful kookaburra in the center, perched on a branch and
surrounded by floral motifs. Also note that the small bowls
usually (not always) bear the registration number RD 4184. The
flowers shown on the 9” bowl are the waratah (to the left and
right of the bird), a single flannel flower below and a wattle
sprig above - tied with a bow. A butterfly hovers at the top.
There are two versions of the 5” nappy - one is a smaller
interpretation of the 9” bowl, complete with flanking waratahs,
wattle garlands and butterflies (top and bottom). The other
version differs in that the background is stippled and the
flower sprays are limited to encircling wattle sprigs that are
quite sparse in appearance. The float bowl is different again!
Here the central bird is surrounded by five individual waratah
heads.
The exterior pattern on the 9” bowl is known as Fern & Wattle
(it’s also found on the exterior of several other master bowls).
The 5” bowls have no reverse pattern. The float bowl is
different again, and may be plain or have the exterior pattern
known as Broken Chain.
Click an image below to see a
larger version in a new window.
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Line drawing of the 9” master
Kookaburra bowl
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
Marigold 11” Kookaburra float bowl |
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A close-up shot of the kookaburra in
the center of the float bowl |
The “dark” (purple) 9” master bowl
in a rare ice cream shape |
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The waratah bloom that flanks the
kookaburra
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
The flannel flower motif
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
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The delightful wattle garland
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
The exterior design known as Fern and
Wattle
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
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The Broken Chain motif
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
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EMU
The Emu is a native species of Australia that can be found
on the grassy plains and in the dry, open woodlands - sometimes
in pairs and sometimes in flocks. The bird was portrayed on
Carnival by Crown Crystal in bowls (large and small) and
splendid comports. As well as marigold and “dark”, rare aqua
pieces are also known, the base color showing a pale greenish
blue under a marigold iridescence.
The basic pattern concept on the bowls is the same for both
masters and nappies. The emu is in the center, surrounded by
wattle springs, flannel flowers and butterflies. On the 9” bowls
there are two butterflies (both above and below the emu) while
on the 5” nappy there is but one, above the bird. On the reverse
of the 9” bowl is the Fern and Wattle back pattern. The Emu
design was registered on November 4, 1924.
The Emu comport does not feature the floral motifs, but
instead portrays the bird in a bushland setting, surrounded by
trees and grassland.
To add a personal touch, we’ll tell you about our first Emu
pieces. We came across them at an antique fair in London around
ten years ago, and in the usual hustle and bustle of the fair we
almost walked right past them. A pair of 5” marigold nappies
(berry bowls) were nestling on a “house clearance” stall among
the bric a brac. We didn’t spot them at first, but a quick
“double-take” revealed what we’d almost missed, and we quickly
clinched the deal.
Click an image below to see a
larger version in a new window.
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| A “dark” Carnival master Emu |
KANGAROO
The kangaroo is undoubtedly one of the most easily
recognized and familiar of all the Australian creatures. The
pattern features a kangaroo amidst oddly stylized trees and
there are actually two versions of the design (registered on
January 15, 1924) to be found on the large master berry bowls.
One version (“Small Roo”) has a smaller kangaroo and a loose
branch above the RD number - the other version has a larger
kangaroo and no branch. All pieces found in this distinctive
design have the moulded RD 4696 on the face of the pattern
underneath the kangaroo. The master berry bowls have the Fern
and Wattle exterior pattern while the small bowls have no
exterior design. As with the Emu pieces, marigold, “dark” and
rare aqua pieces are known.
Click an image below to see a
larger version in a new window.
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A “dark” Carnival master Kangaroo - note
this is the version that has the bigger
kangaroo and is without the branch |
A close-up of the kangaroo |
KINGFISHER
The design features a little bird perched upon a branch. It
was registered in 1923 and the design number (RD 4184) is
moulded onto both the 9” master and the 5” nappies. There are
two versions of both master and berry: one has sprays of wattle
leaves encircling the bird; the other has wattle leaves with the
addition of blossoms. None have exterior patterns.
Recently there have been various sightings of several
versions of fake small 5” nappies in the Kingfisher design. Only
this size of Kingfisher bowl is currently known to have been
faked - and they are pretty easy to spot. Follow
this link to read more detail on how to spot the fakes.
Click an image below to see a
larger version in a new window.
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Line drawing of the master Kingfisher bowl.
This is the simpler
version with encircling
wattle leaves and no blossoms
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
Line drawing of the master Kingfisher bowl.
This is the more
detailed version with
encircling wattle leaves PLUS blossoms
Copyright Glen Thistlewood |
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A “dark” Carnival Kingfisher master in
the simpler version |
The interior of the “dark” Kingfisher
nappy (simpler version) |
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The exterior of the “dark” Kingfisher nappy.
Note the ground
base - this was made
using a one-piece mould |
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SWAN aka AUSTRALIAN SWAN
Such a restful and serene design - the swan sits on the
gently rippling water right in the very center of this beautiful
pattern. It’s a very pleasing design, beautifully composed.
Floral sprays of Christmas Bells frame the central motif. At the
bottom of the design the registered design number RD 4697 is
moulded into the pattern. The individual berry bowls in this
pattern have slight variations in their design, also, some have
the registered design numbers and some do not. The exterior
pattern Fern and Wattle may also be found on the outside of some
of the larger bowls.
Click an image below to see a
larger version in a new window.
A close-up detail of the pattern to
show the lovely design and
the
encircling Christmas bells
And finally, let’s finish off with a few more glimpses of
Crown Crystal’s magnificent Carnival Glass.
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The Piping Shrike is surrounded by wattle blossoms on the master
bowl in “dark” Carnival |
The Magpie is surrounded by a garland of flannel flowers on both
master bowl and nappy (the 5” nappy is shown here) |
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The interior (top) of the Butterfly Bush comport |
A marigold Kiwi nappy, featuring two kiwis surrounded by fronds
of tree fern (the New Zealand national floral emblem) |
Two splendid Banded Diamond tumbler whimsies
flank a regular tumbler.
Australian member Ray Rogers tells us that the whimsies are from
a
different mould to the regular tumbler, as the base is
different.
The weights also differ, the whimsies being heavier as well as
(obviously) taller. The regular tumbler is 4½" high, the
whimsies
are 6" high. Photo Copyright Ray Rogers
Here's a puzzle piece - that may or may not be
Australian. The photo was sent to the wwwcga Mailing List by Ray
Rogers (from Oz) back in October, 2004. It's an amethyst compote
that has subsequently been named "Birds and Pomegranates",
although we believe at one time it was also called "Parrots and
Pomegranates". At the time, Ray explained to the members that he
felt the fruit on the branches looked like pomegranates. He
added "I have been told that the bird is identical to an "Asian
paradise fly catcher" depicted on a piece of china." It's an
intriguing item, but was it made by Crown Crystal? We cannot
confirm where it was actually found. Ray felt that it had
typical Dugan characteristics. What do you think?
If you’d like to listen to Waltzing Matilda while you read
the article, click!
http://www.ausinternet.com/ettamogah/waltzing.htm
Copyright 2006, G&S Thistlewood. All Rights
Reserved.
All photos and drawings, unless otherwise stated, are
Copyright Glen and Stephen Thistlewood and may not
be copied or used in any form without permission. |
