Imperial Ripple Amethyst Mid-Size Souvenir Vase
Description
Ripple vases are one of my favorite patterns. I always have my eyes open for a good Ripple vase. The 2017 HOACGA convention brought me an unusual find. Most of the time, I'm looking for a different color and great iridescence. This time, Gary Lickver had an unusual one, at least for a vase. This amethyst one has an inscription of Viola Webb, with a date of the year 1913, much like a souvenir type inscription. I don't remember seeing that on a vase before.
I researched Viola Webb on Been Verified, and found 67 listings for Viola Webb with various middle names, some without. The youngest at 42 years of age. However, the oldest and only one old enough to have been alive in 1913, was a Viola E. Webb from Orchard Park, New York. At the age of 107 years young, that would make her about 3 years old in 1913. Logically, it’s highly unlikely for her to be buying a vase at that young age.
To delve in deeper, I went to the U.S. census of 1850 and no luck. But in 1870, twenty years later, there were 8 listings of Viola Webb's, all of them born between 1853 and 1869. The only information available was of the year they were born and the city they reside in. We have to guess we will never really know the true owner Viola Webb, for which it was inscribed.
From the looks of the vase, the person or persons selling the souvenir vases had a good eye for color and iridescence. It’s a shame they did not inscribe the city or event this vase was purchased from. I've included quite a few pictures, several of just the inscription.
This vase has a base size of 3 7/8 inches. The opening at the top, at the widest point is 7 1/4 inches by 6 1/4 inches. It stands at 12 1/4 inches high at the tallest point. Also this is the midsize vase, the rarest base size there is in this pattern.
It's a very colorful and unique vase that has become one of my favorites.
The Steve Hazlett Collection
