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Those Darned "Morphing" Hobstars
Imperial's #302
by Glen & Steve Thistlewood
Geometric patterns are possibly the hardest of all to recognize. It's not too hard to identify a pattern with a panther prowling across its face or perhaps a couple of peacocks perched on a fence. They have a shape you can identify and immediately put a name to. But what happens when you are faced with a bunch of hobstars, whirling stars, diamond shapes, square shapes, triangles and fans? Yep, they're tricky! The best we can all do is to try and pick out a recognizable shape-a crown (as in Imperial's ROYALTY) or feather and heart shapes (Millersburg's FEATHER AND HEART). Sometimes the shapes can suggest somewhat off-beat objects. Take a peek at Imperial's CHATELAINE pattern-can you see how those vertical lines between the hobstar panels look a little like Art Deco skyscrapers? Well, it helps us to recognize the pattern! Goodness knows though, how Millersburg's MARILYN acquired its name!
Imperial's CHATELAINE was named by Hartung who said that the pattern evoked a time when "ladies were decked out in jewelry of the fanciest sort and chatelaine bags and pins were almost standard equipment." However, we find it easier to recognize the pattern by focussing on the shapes that look like Art Deco skyscrapers! (It's just our way of looking at it.) |
It's easy to see how Millersburg's FEATHER AND HEART tumbler got its name-the shapes are obviously suggestive of feather and heart motifs. |
The CRABCLAW cruet is actually the decanter in the same pattern as HOBSTAR FLOWER (Imperial's #302). Note that it has a "universal" type of stopper which was no doubt used for various other patterns. In Carnival, the stopper is invariably the same one also used for the OCTAGON decanter. We have seen several of these HOBSTAR FLOWER decanters and all have had OCTAGON stoppers. Almost certainly a multi-purpose item to save manufacturing costs. |
The plate in Imperial's #302. Though this shape is not currently known in Carnival, it is illustrated here in order to show the pattern clearly. |
But every now and again, along comes a pattern that fools us all, no matter how hard we try to tie it down. It pops up in one shape and it is given a pattern name. It pops up in another shape but goes un-recognized-and so it's given a second, totally different, pattern name. Then, yes, it pops up again in a third shape and it receives yet a third, different pattern name. That's what has happened with Imperial's #302 pattern. Several different shapes are shown in the Imperial 1909 Catalog bearing this pattern number. The characteristics of the design are a complex hobstar, fans and curving pointed claw shapes alternately filled with a file or a cut-diamond effect. The difficulty in recognizing Imperial's #302 in its various forms has come about because of the way in which the pattern is altered according to the shape on which it appears. The overall design concept remains the same, but the actual pattern becomes somewhat distorted because of the limitations of the shape of the glass item.
So, what are those shapes (and their current pattern names) that Imperial's #302 pattern is currently found in?
| These two illustrations show the two sizes of ruffled berry bowl in Imperial's #302. (Note that the number 7 was added after the three digit pattern number, for the large berry bowl-while a number 4 was added for the small berry. Most patterns were similarly suffixed). This is the bowl that is currently called HOBSTAR AND ARCHES, though in fact it is the same pattern as the HOBSTAR FLOWER. |
First is the HOBSTAR FLOWER compote. Some years back it was credited to Northwood, but today, most authors are unanimous in acknowledging Imperial as the maker. It was illustrated in the Imperial January 1909 catalog as a 5 ½ inch footed, crimped jelly.
Next is a small decanter. Known as the CRABCLAW cruet, this is actually the same pattern as the HOBSTAR FLOWER. (Our findings with regard to this were first published in NetworK 13, 1997 and the HOACGA Bulletin, same year. You can also read it in our book Carnival Glass-The Magic and the Mystery). The confusion that had originally caused it to be mis-identified as Imperial's CRABCLAW pattern was simply caused by the sheer difficulty of identifying and recognizing geometric designs. One hobstar and claw shape looks pretty much like another! However, the 1909 Imperial catalog cleared it all up. The correct CRABCLAW pattern is Imperial's # 409 whilst the decanter known as the CRABCLAW cruet is Imperial's #302.
Imperial's HOBSTAR FLOWER compote was originally termed a footed jelly. |
And now we have a third shape to add to the list. The bowl, currently known as Imperial's HOBSTAR AND ARCHES, is actually our old friend Imperial's #302 again. Close study of the pattern reveals the same design of complex hobstars, curving pointed claw shapes and fans. Two basic sizes were shown in the 1909 catalog: 4 to 5 inches and 8 to 9 inches. Several small bowls ranging from 4 to 5 inches, variously flared and either ruffled or non-ruffled were shown. Several larger bowls were also depicted ranging from 8 to 9 inches and either ruffled or non-ruffled. It should be noted that the Imperial 1909 catalog was devoted to crystal not iridized glass, therefore it is not possible to be sure that all these shapes were made in Carnival. (Later in 1909, a catalog was issued that introduced a small selection of Rubigold glass-marigold Carnival). Carl O. Burns shows an 8 ½ inch ruffled, marigold HOBSTAR AND ARCHES bowl in his Imperial Carnival Glass book.
Other shapes illustrated in the 1909 crystal catalog in Imperial's #302 (HOBSTAR FLOWER) that are not yet reported in Carnival are 10 inch and 6 inch plates, wine glass, goblet, tumbler, sugar shaker and a four piece table set.
If we were to be guided by logic, it would be nice to think that one day, maybe the CRABCLAW cruet and the HOBSTAR AND ARCHES bowl might be re-named HOBSTAR FLOWER decanter and HOBSTAR FLOWER bowl.
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