Fenton Plaid

By Bob Patterson

This is another curious design by Fenton that holds some mystery about what the designers’ intentions were. It has been described as “Granny’s Gingham” or as representing a cross section of a log. It does have some similarities with the rings but I see it in another way. If this was the first or only one reported and if I were to put a name on it, I would call it “Super Nova.” Starburst would have been my first choice, but that name has been already taken for Riihimaki items. I see an explosion radiating out from the center and emitting waves of energy. It is a captivating design that holds and shows iridescence to advantage.

This bowl belonged to Don Burns, former president of the Pacific Northwest Carnival Glass club. After Don had passed and his glass was being sold, I was lucky enough to land it at a room sale during a southern California Carnival Glass convention.

I had a red plaid shirt when I was a kid and didn’t care very much for it. But I like this bowl a whole lot more!

Red is a very desirable color in this pattern, but the top of the line would be a celeste blue. A celeste blue bowl would set you back a very tidy sum. They are also found in teal, amethyst, green, marigold, and blue. Most often they are found in the ice cream shape shown here. Occasionally Plaid bowls are found in the three in one shape and in plates. Plates are only known in marigold, amethyst, and blue.

If a red or celeste plate were found it would cause an explosion in my mind that would look like this pattern!

Happy Hunting

Photos courtesy of Bob Patterson.

This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the March 2016 issue and is reprinted with permission.