Northwood Peacock & Urn Aqua Opal Large Ice Cream Shape Bowl

I purchased this master ice cream bowl in a private sale from a lovely couple from West Virginia in the Summer of 2014 whom I had just previously met in the Spring of 2014 during my trip to Pennsylvania. Some of you may know Gary & Sharon Vandevander who have been long time friends with Mike Carwile. They're the people who sold me the Fenton Indianapolis Soldiers & Sailors blue plate that you see on the cover of Mike's12th Edition of the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass.

The Vandevanders personally delivered this Northwood Peacock & Urn bowl to me in New Hampshire to insure its safety. It's a pretty rare bird and they didn't want to chance losing or damaging it in the mail or by carrier. The last leg of their trip was perilous. They told me how they had escaped harm during one incident on the highway that would make your hair stand on end. It had Sharon saying she would never make that drive again. I felt so bad to see how shaken she still was talking about it. Luckily the purchase price for this bowl made it all worthwhile. I always say, "There is nothing a good day's business won't cure!"

These photos were taken in several different light conditions which shows its many dramatic personalities. There is even one picture, next the the last one, showing the Peacock taking a midnight stroll. Be sure to click on this one again after you open it. It is so dreamy. It's important to place delicate colors (like aqua opal, white, ice green & ice blue) in the right atmosphere. It's fun to experiment with different background colors, lighting and positions to display your glass until you find, what I call, the "sweet spot" to bring out the best iridescence for your enjoyment and pleasure.

This is the unstippled version of this pattern. I know, I know...there is stippling around the bottom of the bird but you'll find stippling all over the entire bowl in what is called the stippled version. This bowl measures 9.5" wide, 2.5" tall and has a base with a 4" diameter. 

Although you don't see these aqua opal bowls very often, there are at least a couple dozen or more known.  I hear there is a collector in Canada who has a china closet full of them that he's acquired over the years, so they are out there. They appear to be scarce because they have been heavily collected. Sometimes they're just collected alone (like this one of mine) or by collectors of aqua opal or by collectors of  just this pattern. No matter how they're collected they are coveted treasures and are shamelessly hoarded by those who have them. Yes, unfortunately for the massive amount of collectors who have choosen this pattern, these aqua opal bowls are seldom sold at public aucton. They're mostly sold or traded privately.

The last ones I've seen for sale were at the Jackie Poucher sale in September 2014 purchased by Dick Betker, the Roque Auction November 2012 purchased by Don Clark and the auction featuring the Whitley collection in 2010 purchased by Karen Engel. All three sales were conducted by Jim Seeck Auctions. Because these are worth a pretty penny (more than any other color in this pattern) it is usually the last one many collectors will anti up the money for. After all, it's the crowning glory of their collection. Now, at this point in time, collectors find that the odds of finding these items for purchase are diminishing quickly and jump at the chance when they see one surface. When opportunity does knock, we hope we are in the position to be able to make some sacrifices to afford buying one or end up regretting "the one that got away" for very long time, especially if you fancied the iridescence on any particular one. Those visuals will haunt you.

Now, I typically collect these large bowls in the pattern called Peacock made by Millersburg. It also has an urn but there is no bee for the Peacock to chase after into eternity. Although Millersburg did make a Peacock & Urn item like Northwood and Fenton did, the Peacock pattern is separate in the mix. I chose to collect Peacock because it was simple to grasp. It was only made in amethyst, green, marigold and the rare vaseline and there are the shapes and whimsies to focus on. What's my point?

Well, I know many collectors love this Northwood pattern pictured here. I love it too. They are beautiful, plentiful and fun to collect but the reason I have resisted is because I became overwhelmed at the thought of collecting all these colors Northwood put out in this pattern. Like I said, the Millersburg pattern has only four colors (that I know of). Between two major Carnival Glass websites, I counted twenty-one different colors (including 3 different shades of marigold) to collect in this one Northwood Peacock & Urn pattern. (Did anyone see my straight jacket anywhere?)

I can imagine how gorgeous one's collection would be and I commend those collectors for their diligence. Maybe that's the wrong word. I more like envy their accomplishment. The rewards of slowly collecting all these colors has to be a thrilling ride that lasts a long, long time. A journey like that makes one want to go out for the hunt every day.

Going down the ladder in value and rarity from this Aqua Opal Kingpin is the Sapphire blue version. They are so yummy. Hmmm. Collecting in reverse would be something I would do. Well that's it. Hold on to your Northwood Peacocks folks! There's a new collector in town!

Knowing how much I love the history behind my glass, I received a great letter from Mike Carwile about this bowl after he read the above article. Here is what he had to say....

Dear Christina, 

I read your article on the Master Peacock Bowl from Gary & Sharon. What you may not know about this bowl is it came from Australia. The owner had contacted me back in 2006 about selling the bowl, however, the asking price was too high. Then, out of the blue, I get another set of emails in 2011 from her, wanting to sell the bowl again, but this time at a more reasonable price. She was afraid that current market value would continue to fall and decided to sell it at a lower price before things got worse. This aqua opal bowl was the only piece she and her brother were left by their mother. She was not a collector.

Having been friends of Gary and Sharon for many years, I decided to put him and the seller directly together, rather than buy the bowl myself and then move it. I actually handled the deal and had both the bowl and payment sent to me as a broker. When the bowl arrived safely, had no damage and was such a great example, I notified the seller and passed the payment on to her. A few days later I drove the bowl to West Virginia and hand delivered it to Gary & Sharon. Just thought you’d like to know its origin after it left the USA, and maybe add that to your article. Aqua Opal found in Australia is not a big surprise, as you may well know.   Mike

Thank you, Mike, for letting me know its wonderful history. If it were not for your selfless act of friendship with the Vandevanders, I would not have this treasure today. I am so proud to call you my friend. You are the best!

But wait, there's more! The very next day after I posted Mike's letter above, I received this wonderful letter....

Hi Christina,
Attached is a photo of your new bowl taken at our club meeting in our home in 2003. The owner had brought it for me to check the identification. I thought you may like to know a little more of it's history.
Kindest regards, Ray Rogers, Treasurer
Carnival Glass Collectors Association of Australia.

How wonderful is that? I was overwhelmed by the kindest gesture I've ever had from a complete stranger. I would like to thank Mr. Rogers and the Australian Club for their wonderful contribution to the history of this bowl. As you can see, a little piece of it belongs to all of us now.

The Christina Katsikas Collection