Midsize Tree Trunk Vases Photo Essay

By Don Chamberlain

The photo essay for this issue of The Carnival Pump is featuring the mid-sized Tree Trunk vases in both the standard and banded versions.

The blue slag midsize Tree Trunk vase is probably the most unusual color in carnival glass. It is shown here from the side, the bottom, and the top.

Another very rare and unusual vase is the marigold over custard vase that is shown above. Becky and Don Hamlet speculate that someone thought this was peach opal and that is why information says there are two peach opal vases. Do you have a peach opal one?

These vases first appeared in 1908 and remained popular through 1925. Aside from the iridescent examples, they were also made in custard and non‐iridescent examples.

Above from left are the very rarely seen pastels: aqua opal, ice blue, lime green, and white. Is there a true ice green?

The vivid colors are seen above from left purple, horehound, electric blue, and marigold.

The midsized is identified by the diameter of the base. To be a midsize, the base must be four and three-fourths inches. The base diameter of the variant, or banded, midsize is three and three‐quarters inches. Generally, the height will be eleven to fourteen inches. There are about sixteen colors known for the standard or non-banded vases, with the most common being marigold, amethyst, and green. Cobalt is listed as very scarce. Horehound and lime green are thought to be rare. Very rare examples include ice blue, ice green, and sapphire blue. Seldom seen colors are custard with a marigold iridescence, aqua opal (six known), peach opal (two known, perhaps), and only one known blue slag. This blue slag was discovered in the late eighties by Elvis Randall and is currently owned by Don and Becky Hamlet.

Above is a bouquet of midsize Tree Trunk vases featuring the beautiful aqua opal front and center.

Above you see two examples of the midsize Tree Trunk variant/plunger base style in marigold and green, and a small inset showing the plunger band close up.

Above are two vivid midsize vases in green. The one on the right has a unique flame style top.

We are very grateful to Don and Becky Hamlet for sharing photos of their beautiful vases, and to Kevin and April Clark for allowing us to take photos of their great collection. Without either of these couples, this photo essay wouldn’t have been possible.

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