Cambridge Nearcut No. 2696 Wheat Sheaf No. 131 Green 32 ounce Whiskey Decanter No. 1

I'm very excited to present this wonderful decanter found by Isaac Sommershein around the year 1980. He sold it to Elwood "Woody" and Marlene Funk. It sat in the Funk Collection for 30 years. Woody was the president of the American and Keystone Carnival glass clubs and also the founder of the Lititz Carnival glass show and sale. Their collection was sold at auction by Jim Wroda in May of 2010 at the Keystone Carnival Glass Club convention. The last picture for this article shows the auction brochure photo for this auction. It was at this auction that Isaac Sommershein actually bought it back and then listed it on his eBay store, user name "Mommashein",  for $8500. He billed it as the only Carnival glass Wheat Sheaf decanter known in this color. At the same time, he listed it with a white iridized version of a Wheat Sheaf decanter ever reported as well and offered both together for the one price.

I can remember how enchanting these two decanters were, especially the green one. I had them on my eBay "Watch List" for quite a while and longed for them but had never made the conscious decision to buy them. When they eventually disappeared from his eBay store, I felt such remorse for not having persued them. I thought surely they'd been sold and I knew I missed an extremely rare opportunity to own one of the most important pieces of Cambridge Carnival glass ever made.

As it turns out, when he did not realize his price on eBay he decided to sell both decanters to Aaron Hurst in 2013 for what he had in them. I didn't know this until later, in February of 2014, when I came upon the green one in Aaron's room at the Tampa Bay Carnival Glass convention. At the time, I was busy purchasing the aqua opal mid-size Tree Trunk vase from him when I glanced over and recognized the decanter right away. As I reached out for it I asked Aaron if this was "the one", if this was "Mommashein's" I'd seen on eBay. He confirmed that is was indeed Isaac's.

I remember blinking hard three times because I couldn't believe my eyes were seeing what I thought was only a dream. Oh my goodness! What if I woke up?! I held it tightly and felt how marvelous it was. It was really heavy and so much larger than I imagined from Isaac's eBay listing. I can see why Issac thought this was worth asking all the money. The problem was, there is nothing to compare it to for value. He had tremendous respect for this decanter and went by raw, gut feelings when he priced it with his many years of experience handling glass.

The colors and pattern were like nothing I'd ever seen in Carnival glass. To understand it, one would actually have to be in my position to fully appreciate the antiquity and historical value this piece exudes. Although it may have monetary value, it's a priceless, one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-duplicated rarity for me.

I bought it without a second thought and was so grateful for second chances. It was a very happy moment in my life that plays itself over and over everytime I pick it up. It's like sweet music that never gets old no matter how many times I hear it. This piece is on the top ten favorites list in my collection today. Considering how important it was to me before and after I lost it on eBay in the first place, it's a true miracle to find it. I cannot tell you folks how important and rewarding it is to join some of these fantastic Carnival glass clubs. They're hot spots for some of the most beautiful glass on earth!

Later that day during the convention, I asked Aaron if he purchased the white iridized version from Isaac as well. He said he did, but he had left it at home, and offered to send it to me later. My day couldn't get much better!  It was wonderful to be able to keep these two historical Cambridge treasures together.

It's 10" tall without the stopper and 12" tall with the stopper. The stopper is 2 3/4" long, the decanter's base is 3 1/2"-3 1/4 oblong. The bottom is slightly oval-shaped with a rough, unpolished broken pontil. The handle is warped to one side a bit. The stopper fits on a certain way or it will appear tilted to one side. All these odd traits combined with the sharp, cut, geometric designs in the pattern equals a strange, crude, rustic elegance like no other. Please click on the pictures twice to see their larger version and notice the little sheafs of wheat for which the pattern was named for.

I contacted the Cambridge Glass Club and spoke to Mark Nye who was happy to send me any information he may know of in respects to this decanter and Cambridge Carnival Glass in particular. In his letter he explained the Wheat Sheaf pattern is Cambridge Number 2660. The information further described cologne bottles were made in marigold, green and purple with the original stoppers being very hard to find. Covered cracker jars were also made in this pattern in purple and a 32 oz. decanter, this one, was described as "made in green, one known, gorgeous multi-color iridescence." Let me explain these decanters are commonly found in classic Cambridge clear, not iridized, glass. This is the only one made  in green and is iridized.

Also included in the information pack was an article written by Mary L. Adams. She says, "Carnival glass is among the Cambridge Glass Comany's earliest efforts, with production dates of 1908, 1916-17, and perhaps the late 1920s. Judging by the number of pieces available today, Cambridge produced very little Carnival glass in only a few patterns. Many pieces are marked "Near Cut". Cambridge made marigold, purple, green and blue Carnival glass. Carnival glass collectors tend to prefer realistic patterns to the imitation cut glass patterns used by Cambridge. Carnival glass collectors also prefer multi-hued iridescence, yet many Cambridge pieces carry silver or gold iridescence. The main collectors of Cambridge Carnival glass are Carnival glass collectors, not Cambridge collectors."

Very interesting, I say. I agree with her. Many thanks to Mark Nye for the information. Please visit him at the National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. website at cambridgeglass.org, a non profit organization founded in 1973 with over 1200 members from 45 states. You'll want to visit the National Museum of Cambridge Glass in downtown Cambridge, Ohio which this club opened in 2002.  It features glass made from 1902-1958. It opens in April and closes in October. I really look forward to visiting them some day. I have always loved the elegance and quality of Cambridge Glass.

The Christina Katsikas Collection 

Note: Since the writing of this article, I have come to own the second such decanter known. Read all about it here!