Fenton Indianapolis, Indiana Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument Blue Souvenir Commemorative Plate

There is only one bowl and two of these plates known in this pattern. All three items are blue. One plate and one bowl are in my collection and the other plate once belonged to Jack Adams, which sold at auction in 2003. It could be the one I read about in the July 1974 Carnival Glass News & Views newsletter written by O. Joe Olson. He reported some prices realized during the Lockhart Carnival auction in Indianapolis on June 7th, 1974 where "Harold Staley, of Freeport, Illinois, paid $1,500 for the important Indianapolis Monument 7" plate in blue, only one known." Today we know it was the only one known "for a while" until mine was discovered. Here's the story on this one.

If this plate looks familiar, it's the same one photographed by Mike Carwile for the front cover of his 12th edition of The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass.

Originally, years ago, Bill Edwards, who wrote books about glass with Mike Carwile, also photographed this plate at a convention. He used that picture many times in each of the older editions of the books until it was old and faded and it soon became darker and darker with each edition from being recopied so many times. At the time, it belonged to a woman from Louisville.

This woman was a social worker who visited different people's homes. She had this plate for several years after having purchased it from someone who was using it as an under plate for their potted plant on their porch. She knew it was special the moment she saw it. The owner was more than glad to sell it it to her.

Then, when this woman passed away about eight years ago, she left it to her niece with a note inside the wrappings indicating that the plate was very valuable. She further instructed her neice that in the event she wanted to sell the plate, she should contact Mike Carwile who would surely help her sell it. Mike passed the information on for her to his good friends, Mr. & Mrs. Gary & Sharon Vandevander of West Virginia.

Gary and his wife enjoyed it for a few years and have recently decided it was time to let it go. Mike felt strongly that this rare piece of history should be shared with many people. He asked Gary to offer to sell it to me first, knowing it would come to rest here in the Carnival Glass Showcase. Well, he did and I did and we all have it now to share. Thanks to Mike Carwile for thinking of all of us who will enjoy this rarity together for many years to come. 

The color is wonderful and has lovely stretchy iridescence all around the outer edges. The back pattern is the Berry & Leaf Circle, the same pattern found on the Illinois Soldiers' & Sailors' Home and the Indiana State House commemorative plates as well.

The original monument was built in 1901 and is just over 284 feet tall, which is about 20 feet less than the Statue of Liberty. There is an observation deck that can be reached by climbing 331 steps or by taking an elevator and there's a Civil War museum in the basement as well. It looks like a worthwhile stop and I just can't wait to include it in my travels some day.

The Christina Katsikas Collection