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

I purchased this ice cream shape bowl from the Jackie Poucher Auction in September 2014. It's one of two known bowls in this pattern. It's 6 1/2" wide and 2 1/8" tall. The two photos below are from the Seeck Auction catalog page from that historic auction showing it as lot #65.

Jackie tells me she bought it on January 27, 2007 at a Wroda auction featuring the Reyan collection. The third to the last photo shows it in the Wroda Auction catalog as lot #50. Here is Wroda's description:

To go back even further, it was also sold at the 1994 ACGA (American Carnival Glass Ass.) Convention Auction on July 28th in Worthington, Ohio by auctioneer Tom Burns. It featured the collection of Rovene Heaton from Muncie, Indiana plus a couple of extra consignments so the owner of this bowl sold at this auction is not certain at this time.

Here is Tom's description of it in his catalog: "7-7 1/2 FENTON "SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA" ICE CREAM SHAPED BOWL-BLUE- (UNBELIEVABLE ITEM; ONE OF 2 KNOWN; A FANTASTIC FENTON RARITY)". The bowl brought $10,000 back then in 1994 which, my Inflation Calculator, had the same buying power as $16,555 today in 2017.

There are conflicting descriptions between Jim Wroda, who says there is this one known, and Tom Burns who declares there are two known bowls. At this time, I do not know of a second bowl but I am always on the lookout for that information.

I already owned one out of the two only known plates in this pattern so I thought it was extremely important to acquire the bowl to keep these ultra rare items together. They both ooze with history and craftsmanship. This bowl has a really pretty glow of dark magenta colors. The lettering especially has outstanding iridescence in multiple colors. I was so happy to see how pretty it was. 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 photo above was featured in the Lincoln-Land Newsletter XX No. 2  March 1995 on a page titled Picture Potpourri by Joan Doty.

I must say, after all this close-up photography, I'm positive this is the only known pattern dipicting a naked little man, smiling and waving his hand hello. It appears he's been doing this for over one hundred years in a desperate attempt for someone to finally notice him!  Well, originally, he's suppose to be holding something in his hand....maybe a torch, but it sure looks like a waving hand to me. I can count four fingers! This little fellow is so tiny, only half an inch tall, but the artist actually gave him a detailed face with distinct eyes, a nose and mouth. Now, if the artist was this attentive to detail, how much trouble would it have been for him to throw a couple of buttons on his little guy's chest? I'm just saying...I wouldn't be calling him a naked little man today if he had. It just may be the best kept secret (no more!) of all Carnival glass patterns. Make sure to click on the photo again for a really good close-up view of him. I smile when I imagine the mould maker adding those final little details.

But wait! That was no man on top at all. It was actually Lady Victory, known by locals as "Miss Indiana". In Lady Victory's right hand is a sword, the point rests upon the globe, symbolizing the army to which victory was due. Victory faces south, supposedly to look over the vanquished battlefields of the South. Her left hand holds a torch, gleaming with gold which represents the light of civilization. The young eagle on her brow is emblematic of freedom. Lady Victory was designed by George W. Brewster. The cost was $13,700.The young eagle atop her head represents freedom.

Wikipedia states this monument was dedicated in 1902. It cost $598,318 and took thirteen years to build it then. It is estimated that construction of a similar monument today would exceed $500 million dollars. Before it was built, they ran an international contest by placing notices in many newpapers including the U.S., Canada, England, France, Germany, and Italy.  The ads asked architects to submit sketches for their designs. Bruno Schmitz from Berlin, Prussia was the winner. He called it "Symbol of Indiana".

Please visit the Indianapolis Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument plate, here on the Showcase, to read more about this fantastic pattern.

For the complete history, please visit this link. Indianapolis Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument aka Monument Circle and World's Largest Christmas Tree.

The Christina Katsikas Collection