Block Band Table Set

By Barb Chamberlain

Block Band or Block Band Diamond, is a George Duncan and Sons pattern, is a pattern in carnival glass that isn’t found often and has not been identified on any of the carnival glass sites of which I am aware. It isn’t the showiest or prettiest pattern but has a grace and elegance about it. The Duncan pattern number was No. 27.

Lee Markley reported on this pattern in a water set in the March 2007 issue of The Carnival Pump, but he made no reference to other pieces made in carnival glass. This pattern was made in pattern glass that was treated with the ruby flash treatment. Lee also reported that the pattern was available in fifty-two different crystal shapes. I imagine that there are fewer shapes in ruby flash glass, and even less carnival glass in the Block Band pattern.

As you can see on our Block Band table set, the marigold iridescence is applied only on the smooth nonpatterned portion of each of the table set pieces. After the iridizing was complete piece, artists painted a blue daisy-type flower with green foliage; with two flowers on the front and one on the back. According to Lee, this enameled design also appeared on some Riverside Glass Company’s X-Ray pieces. That would indicate that some artists were utilized by different glass companies.

This pattern obviously was named for the molded pattern at the base of the pieces. As you most likely know, a table set consists of a covered sugar, a creamer, a spooner, and a covered butter. The lid of the sugar and the base of the butter do not have iridescence. In the center of the base on each piece there is a multi-rayed star.

We found this set in an antique store with the creamer and spooner sold together, while the sugar and butter were priced individually because of some damage. We thought the set should stay together. Imagine early in the 1900’s everyone sat formally at the table; these table set pieces remained on the table even between meals. I can remember my grandmother in the 1950’s having a spooner setting on the table with teaspoons in it. I don’t remember that she had the other pieces of the table set there.

Above you see the full Block Band table set featuring, from left, spooner, covered sugar, covered butter, and creamer.

The top picture shows the spooner where it was iridized on the smooth panel. After that the artist painted two blue flowers with green foliage. There is one flower on the back. The bottom picture shows the base, and you can see the pattern on the base of the spooner and know this is where Block Band got its name.

After I had completed this article, Jim and Jan Seeck pictured this syrup pitcher in their Southern California Carnival Glass convention auction and referred to it as the Radiance pattern, but as you can see, it is the same Block Band pattern as our table set is.

Do you have any other pieces in this Block Band pattern with the marigold iridescent finish. If you do, please contact me at dbcham@iowatelecom.net or 124 E. Honey Creek Dr., Manchester, IA 52057. If you could, please send a photo and tell us what the piece is. I would like to include any new information in the newsletter.

This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the March 2019 issue and is reprinted with permission.