Northwood Grape & Cable Purple Whiskey Decanter

I purchased this decanter on e-Bay in October of 2017 and paid far less than I thought it would go for. I wanted it mainly because I saw so many similarities to my Nearcut Cambridge decanter that I had to see the two side by side.

• The neck and the spout are the same.
• The stoppers are 3" long on each one and shaped the same, both with broken tips not ground or polished.
• They both measue 10 3/4" tall to the spout and 12" tall overall.
• The base width on both is 4 7/4".
• Both decanters are heavy-- extra thick glass.

You see why I am convinced the same mould maker designed both pieces, one for Northwood, one for Cambridge. Either that or it was copied by either company. 

Diane Fry wrote a nice article for the ICGA Town Pump a few years ago in the March 1994 issue where she said it was difficult to find one of these not damaged, complete with the stopper and with good iridescence that matched both the body and the stopper. Then, there would be the matter of obtaining six little shots she described as expensive "little dickens" and explained even if you found one to buy, the difficulty would be in matching them to the decanter....six times. I can see what she means.

This one looks like the stopper is original to the decanter for iridescence. It's pretty enough. The grapes are on the silvery side but once the sunlight hits them there is an explosion of blinding, white glistening sparkles. It's very radium where the grape pattern is but the top and bottom sections have a matte or satin iridescence. The first two photos are this same decanter; one by indoor light, one in sunlight. It changes completely with the light conditions; silver to gold then back to silver.

In looking through the inside of the decanter, the color is actually amethyst and the stopper is a dark violet-blue when held to the light.

• The Grape & Cable humidor has the same beads going around its cover's knob as this decanter's stopper shows.
• The design on top of the Grape & Cable covered compote is the same as the grape leaves pattern on top of the decanter stopper.
• The thumbprint design is on the Grape & Cable pitchers, humidors, table sets, cookie jars, and on this decanter.
• The shots measure 2 3/4" tall, 1 3/4 base, and a 2 1/8" wide opening. 
• This pattern has only been known in two colors; predominately purple and the seldom seen marigold.

Above is a sample of each of those colors. It's a treat to see them side by side, complete with all the shot glasses! These beauties belong to Bill & Jane Kenney, collectors here on Showcase. Thank you Bill & Jane for your lovely display.

The Christina Katsikas Collection