Millersburg Rays & Ribbons Emerald Green Rufflled Bowl

In the not too distant past, Millersburg Carnival Glass was a hot topic in our home. Bill has been a steady fan of their efforts ever since he became smitten with Carnival Glass. I was not so much enamored with it, as I’m not generally fond of radium iridescence, I prefer satin multicolored iridescence. I can’t help that, but do believe that variety is the spice of life, and it’s a wonderful thing that Carnival Glass offers so many wonders in so many shapes, forms and finishes. Such is the case with Millersburg; it’s not always predictable or as you expect it to be.

Early Millersburg Carnival Glass was in satin, as John Fenton had not yet perfected the radium iridescent treatment to cause this finish. Satin was produced by spraying the glass with tin or ferric chloride (or both) while the glass was still quite hot. He found out that if you waited a bit more before iridizing the glass, letting it cool down just a tad, the result would be the shiny see-through radium finish. In other words, slow down glass workers and don’t hurry as much as you used to.

We have owned a few of these Rays and Ribbons bowls in the past, including one that had phenomenal marigold satin iridescence. This beauty carries the Cactus pattern on the exterior, has a fine green base glass color and scads of lovely blue iridescence with just a pinch of purple highlights.

We had purchased this particular bowl in an online auction from a California collection with the intention of reselling it. When it was delivered and unwrapped we were both immediately very impressed with its great beauty. When our daughters expressed their fondness for it we knew it wasn't going anywhere but here on the Showcase. Welcome home Rays & Ribbons.

 The Kate & Bill Lavelle Collection