Dugan Lined Lattice Fiery Amethyst Electric Blue Square-Footed Vase

~ Meeting Mitchell ~

Don’t you love Carnival Glass hunting stories? I do. I’ve really enjoyed these tales ever since I got into Carnival Glass. My favorite is still the one about Dick Betker’s marigold Diamond & Rib jardinière. Priceless story there!

It’s common amongst Carnival Glass collectors (i.e. addicts, hoarders. Call us names…we don’t care.) to go on road trips on our way hither and yon, from here to there. And while doing so, many of us make stopping at antique malls / stores / fairs part of our itinerary. You go because, like Forrest Gump, you know that these places ARE like a box of chocolates, as it’s absolutely true that you never know what you’re going to get.

It’s been our experience that about 95% of these excursions into these dusky realms will yield little to nothing. But, always being optimistic, onward ye Carnival Glass soldiers, you go into these venues armed with adrenalin rushes, fueled with the flame of hope that you’ll be leaving with something really special clutched in your arms. Personally, we call it our “Search for the Aqua Opal Peoples Vase”. Our motto used to be the “Search for the Next People’s Vase”, but we decided to step it up a notch, aim higher and dream a little beyond reason. I am being facetious and your leg has been gently pulled. Heck, there’s no such thing as an aqua opal People’s Vase…or is there? Hmm…

In addition, we also try to frequent certain antique malls / venues regularly as the many dealers are often bringing something new to their booths. Such was the case for us last week as we took a daytrip and revisited a mall that we stop in now and then. The offerings were pretty much run of the mill goods; bland marigold Leaf Ray nappies, weak Iris & Herringbone in every shape and size known to mankind, silvery Stippled Rays bowls, pale, chipped Fashion punch cups and similar sad fare.

We were about halfway through the mall when Bill called me over to a locked, lighted showcase. I was a good 20 feet away when I saw what he wanted me to see. There, in the back of the showcase, was the top 3” of what appeared to be a very vibrantly iridized, tall, dark, Lined Lattice vase. We couldn’t see the rest of it as it was buried by random items the seller had layered in front of it. I peeked at it through the glass shelf from below and saw it had the rarer square feet in lieu of the triangular later Lined Lattice feet. I have a black amethyst squatty Lined Lattice at home with similar iridescence and guessed this one could be black amethyst as well. I looked at Bill and honestly said, “This is mine.” We hadn’t even seen it all or even held it yet!

We signaled a salesman who came with the keys and we watched with great anticipation as he dug out Bill’s find. The more we saw, the more we loved it. It had crazy, rich iridescent color, top to bottom and it was filthy. We couldn’t wait to clean this beauty up!

It turned out that it wasn’t black amethyst, but rather a very fiery amethyst. It stood almost a foot in height at 11 ¾” and had a 5” top flare. Then we saw the reasonable price tag which caused us to instantly warp into the “what’s wrong with it?” mode. It must be cracked, a point broken off, big chips somewhere. Bill looked it over, I looked it over. We smiled with our eyes and mouths and I told the salesman, “Wrap it up!”.

As expected, once Bill had completed his cleaning process, we were both completely impressed. Likewise, our daughters thought it was really amazing too, so it also won the young folks approval, not an easy thing to do. We’re not really in the habit of naming our Carnival Glass; only a few special pieces claim monikers. However, this beloved vase will always be called Mitchell after our friend and favorite Lined Lattice collector, Mitchell Stewart. He was the first person we met at our first convention and has mentored us with kindness and humor ever since. Mitchell, you’ve gotta love him. We do and his namesake vase as well! Here’s to you good friend!

No, it’s not a vase that will break your bank; it just is what it is. It’s the finding of a special piece like this makes these trips so totally worthwhile. Great stuff is still out there! This electric gem was rescued from years of total obscurity and will now be part of the Carnival Glass world forever. It will rest temporarily in our collection for the time being. As we all well know, we are all only the temporary caretakers. But I feel assured that having now been found, documented, cataloged and appreciated for what it is; this newly found vase will continue to be treasured by other Carnival Glass collectors of the future long after we depart this life. It’s just that pretty.

Now go on, get out there and find that aqua opal People’s Vase! Nothing ventured and all that. A hunting ye must go!

The Kate & Bill Lavelle Collection