Rose Show and Rose Show Variant Photo Essay

By Don Chamberlain

Rose Show and its variant are two popular patterns with many collectors. This, despite that fact that there are many pieces that sell each year. They do, in fact, make up almost one percent of all yearly sales.

While aqua opal Rose Show bowls left, are plentiful in supply, there is only a single aqua opal plate known which sold in a Burns’ auction in Cleveland twenty-five years ago for $12,000. Tom Mordini tells us the opal is only on the very edge. Shown above next to the aqua opal are lime green opal, custard, and horehound bowls, all of which are very scarce and desirable.

While none of these have been found with the Northwood mark, they have long been assumed to have been made by them. With research by Glen and Stephen Thistlewood and Karen McIntire, this assumption has been proven. They located a Northwood advertisement which showed Rose Show, as well as Poppy Show with other verified Northwood pieces. According to Carl Burns these bowls and plates were made in the 1912 to 1914 period and were designed by George Mortimer. The exterior of Rose Show carries a design called Woven Wonder – a type of basketweave.

Other desirable colors in Rose Show bowls are from left: sapphire blue (you can see the color through the roses), ice blue, and green.

Rose Show is only found in bowls and plates in a large variety of colors. There are bowls found in at least nineteen colors and plates in fourteen. While aqua opal is rather common in bowls, it is rather rare in plates. Another very desirable plate would be vaseline. There are also two known custard bowls. Ice green opal would also be a great addition to your collection. White seems to be the most common color.

Some very desirable Rose Show plates include from the left: lime green/vaseline, marigold on custard, and lime green opal (with just a hint of opal on the edges).

From left are emerald green, purple, blue, and white plates. The blue and white plates probably are the most plentiful.

The easiest way to distinguish the Rose Show Variant is by the sawtooth edge. The variant also has a ribbed back and a solid marie – whereas Rose Show has a very pronounced indentation of roses in the center of the marie. The variant is also lighter in weight and the relief of the rose design on the face is not as raised. Bowls and plates in the variant are known in blue, marigold, and Renninger blue with plates more common than bowls.

On the left is the exterior of the Rose Show marigold on custard plate with the Woven Wonder exterior and the indented rose inside the collar base. In the middle is the exterior of the Rose Show Variant plate with the ribbed back. The lime green/vaseline color is featured in the photo to the right.

The four pieces above are the Rose Show Variant pieces. Plates are more abundant than bowls in this pattern. Compare the blue plate, left, to the Renninger blue next to it. There is a distinct difference in shades of blue. The marigold plate might be the hardest color to find in plates. On the right is a Renninger blue bowl.

Photos courtesy of Seeck Auctions.

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