Fenton Diamond & Rib Marigold Jardiniere

I like to go by myself up to the UP of Michigan and snowmobile during the week and leave Friday before the weekend warriors get up there. It was Friday morning and I was out for my last ride.

I was in new country and kind of got turned around a little bit. I was running along the highway and somehow I missed where the trail went back into the woods. I came to an asphalt road and took a right, went a mile and then took a left and then another mile and I took a right. While traveling down this road I passed a farm house that had an antique sign out front.

I turned around and pulled in just as the farmer was coming out to warm up his truck. It was cold like 12, 13 degrees below zero. I asked him about the sign and he stated they were closed for the season. I was bummed and he could see that. He said as long as he had to wait for his truck to warm up I could come in and look around. He was going to pick up his wife who was 250 miles away and would not be back until Sunday night.

I went into his shop and there was stuff everywhere. I asked about carnival glass and he told me there was some in the corner. I went and checked it out. There was a round table in the corner with 3 pieces of carnival glass. There was a marigold Imperial Grape tumbler listed as a water glass for $50. There was a weak amethyst Pansy bowl for $200 and then there was a third piece listed as bowl/vase for $350. The bowl/vase was covered in grime & grease like stuff and it would need a major cleaning. I told him that I liked the bowl/vase and asked if he could he do any better on the price. He said he would do 10% off.

So now it was $315. I went through all my pockets, my wallet and all the secret compartments and all I could come up with was $307. The farmer finally sympathized with me and let me have that vase/bowl. I had him wrap it in several layers of news paper and then double paper bags and I was on my way back to the hotel. It took about 4 hours of slow tedious riding but we both made it in one piece.

After a long cleaning session, there it was our very first Diamond & Rib jardinere. It is dark marigold with pink, blue & green iridescence and it is pristine.

The Dick & Sherry Betker Collection