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Imperial Blue
Photos by David Doty and Carl Booker
Introduction by Brian Pitman
Piece descriptions by David Doty
Imperial Blue is
an intriguing color. The simple fact is, not very much of it was
made. Unlike Fenton, whose Cobalt Blue color was seen in almost
everything they did, Imperial, Millersburg and Dugan didn't make that much
blue. Generally, a blue piece from each of these manufacturers can
have a nice value.
It's very interesting that Imperial didn't make much blue, though.
Unlike Millersburg, which didn't seem to ever grasp making a gorgeous blue
piece (except for the occasional exception), Imperial Blue is generally
very pretty. When you think about the time that Blue Imperial pieces
were made, it makes you wonder if it's the economy of making blue that
kept Imperial from mass producing it, or if (God forbid) people just
didn't like it in its day (and stuck with the tried and true Fenton blue).
Regardless, in the
here and now, Imperial Blue can be very valuable, and as you can see
below, can be gorgeous. Enjoy...
 
Left: Chrysanthemum chop
plate. This is actually a smoky blue. It sold at a 1994 Tom Burns auction
for $1,600. Photo by Dave Doty. Right: Homestead Plate.
This fine example is owned by Carl Booker. Photo by Carl Booker.
 
Left: Shell ruffled
bowl. This one was owned by Todd Kuwitsky when I photographed it in 1999.
Photo by Dave Doty. Right: Morning Glory funeral vase.
Photographed in 1994 while owned by Gary Lickver. Photo by Dave Doty.
 
Left: Pansy nappy. This
example was photographed in the collection of Elvis Randell in 1996. I
don't know whether he still owns it. Photo by Dave Doty. Right:
Scroll Embossed compote. The glass color here is the very deep blue violet
that Imperial sometimes produced. It was owned by Tim Cantrell when I
photographed it in 1999. Photo by Dave Doty.
 
Left: Lustre Rose fernery. Blue is the most common
color in this Imperial shape. Of the 22 I list as being sold in
auctions since 1993, eight of them have been blue. Other colors listed in
these auctions have been black amethyst, clambroth, marigold, olive,
purple, smoke, and violet. Photo by Dave Doty. Right: Imperial
Grape low ruffled bowl. This one sold at auction in 1994 for $2,200, then
again in 1997 for $5,000. It's the one I show on the cover of my Field
Guide. Photo by Dave Doty.
 
Left: Heavy Grape small
variant bowl. This piece was photographed in 1997 in the collection of
Elvis Randell. Photo by Dave Doty. Right: Flute & Cane bowl. I
had no idea that this pattern was ever made in blue, but here it is. Owned
by Tim Cantrell when I photographed it in 2000. Photo by Dave Doty.
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