Northwood Acorn Burrs Amethyst Whimsey Vase made from a Tumbler

~ As Written by Christina Katsikas ~

~~ for Ray & Shirley Henry ~~

For many years this was considered the only whimsey vase known to have been made from an Acorn Burrs tumbler.  It was swung until it became 6 1/4" tall from its originally intended tumbler height of 4 1/8" tall. It's top measures 2 5/8" across and has a base diameter of 2 1/2". In other words, it's really darn cute. If you look at the way the top is shaped, I almost think the maker created a little spout used to pour the old water out or maybe this vase was even used as a carafe for wine or liquor. It would make a perfect serving for two. After all, they say "necessity is the mother of invention". It fits nicely in one's hand too.

The iridescence along the base shows glints of blue, magenta and gold and then those colors merge upward to an extremely shinier gold. I must call the majority of this vase radium in comparison to any other Acorn Burrs pieces I own or have ever seen. It's this feature that makes it brilliant. When placed near or between any other pieces of glass, it immediately picks up those colors as well.

This vase originally belonged to Rev. Leslie Wolfe, of Villa Grove, Illinois, who was well known as one of the founding fathers and the first President of the ICGA club back in 1968. At some point, Leslie Wolfe sold it to Bob & Mary McCaslin who were also original members of the ICGA, with Bob sitting on the board of directors while Leslie Wolfe was President.

Bob & Mary McCaslin owned it for over 30 years thereafter and were very well known for it. I first saw a picture of it in a letter Mary wrote, on May 24, 2012, to the nightly Woodsland Club newsletter. In her letter she remarked how Mr. Wolfe told her, at that time, that she should keep it and someday it would be very special. From the pictures I could tell it was a sweet little whimsey and remembered dreaming of owning it. Mary's melancholy and bittersweet letter indicated that she hoped the next owner of this vase would enjoy it as much as they had. It seemed as if she was planning to let it go. Maybe it was just my imagination.

Shortly thereafter, on May 30th of 2012, Tom Mordini had written in to Mary McCaslin on Woodsland in response to her letter to say that he knew of one other vase of this kind because it was one he purchased about fifteen years ago from a fella by the name of Joe Corrothers. I could imagine news like this for Mary was unsettling, after thirty plus years of thinking hers was the only one.

Then in November of 2012, right about the time I was launching this website, I remembered that odd little whimsey and thought how wonderful it would be to see it here on Showcase. I had put a message out for Mary to possibly write me a little story and send me some pictures but it never came to be. Still, I thought some day I may possibly own it but it didn't seem likely since collectors do not let go of these little treasures very often. Many collectors have close friends in the hobby to whom they've promised "first chance at" or "first refusal for" these items when the time comes to let them go.

Two years later, in  2014, Tom Burns sold it to Aaron Hurst of Terre Hill, Pennsylvania privately for the McCaslins. Later, in February of 2015, Aaron and his lovely wife Arlene attended the Tampa Bay Carnival Glass Cub Convention where we all had lots of fun and got to spend some long overdue time together.

Towards the end of the convention, after the auction was over and activities died down, Aaron and I made a package deal which included this little vase. Its rarity, beauty and charm won me over. I didn't even put up a fight. It just jumped in my bag and said take me home. Who am I to argue with a little miracle like that?

I thank Aaron & Arlene for thinking of me when it came time to sell it. Yes, they knew I'd be there. The last picture shows them at the dinner table during the convention enjoying a good laugh. Now that's a picture they can write home about to show their family how happy they were to be away from the extreme cold weather during the winter of 2015. They went on to travel down into the Florida Keys with friends to extend their visit and find some rest and relaxation.

Also, I'd like to thank Bob & Mary McCaslin for taking such good care of it all these years. Please know it has a great home with me and it's in great company here amongst the greats on Showcase.

Fast forward to one year later. In February of 2016, again at the Tampa Bay Convention, I sold this little cutie to my good friends and fellow collectors Ray & Shirley Henry. I will tell you why. Ray had kept track of this vase for about 40 years, dreaming of the chance to own it some day. He even asked Tom Burns to look out for it and remember them if he ever had the chance to sell it for Mary McCaslin some day.

Somehow, when that day came, it slipped Tom's mind and it was too late. He had already sold it to Aaron Hurst. He felt really bad. Then, the Henrys missed it again (unknown to me) when I bought it from Aaron at the convention where they were also attending.

So after enjoying it for one year, they wrote to ask if they could buy it and after hearing their story of the "little one that kept getting away", I realized this vase meant so much more to them. Don't get me wrong, I did love it and had a hard time letting it go. It wasn't easy. I still miss the tyke.

A few days later, Tom Burns called to thank me for selling it to them. It made him feel better and he was grateful I let him "off the hook" so his conscience could rest where the Henrys were concerned. We both agreed they are wonderful people and deserve every happiness.

And we all lived happily after.  Christina

The Ray & Shirley Henry Collection