Forty Niner Vase

Or Royal Diamond

by Bob Patterson

Bigfoot, the Kraken, and the Loch Ness monster are all known too almost everyone. Although there has been no solid proof of their existence, people still believe they exist. Many books, TV documentaries, and fireside tales will be with us for years to come. Fuzzy photos taken from a distance and faded tracks in the snow or mud and a howl in the night are all we have to go on.

Stories of only known examples of carnival glass also exist in our hobby. Price guides have entries that state “one known in blue” or “vase known” with no photo or estimate of condition. Only when a good photo is published, or the rarity is shown at a convention that its existence is confirmed.

I got this monster several months ago and held back on showing it until I could publish a newsletter photo and article. I belong to several clubs, and I have noticed that articles with a new carnival glass discovery are becoming the real rarities. I have always enjoyed the articles and photos of something new and exciting. Sadly, with the computer age upon us, something new is shown in that forum and not shown first in a newsletter. Not all of the folks that collect carnival glass have a computer or are tech savvy. If you enjoy this story, consider submitting an article to this publication. You will be rewarded with new knowledge gained from your research.

                                                                                                                                               Standing Up

                                                                                                                                           Laying Down

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This was an online auction purchase from a seller in France and it was not listed under carnival glass. I recognized it; a never seen before Forty Niner vase and upon closing I was the only bidder. It is a very large vase standing 12 3/8″ high. It is very heavy with thick glass that could have been swung to great heights. It is sized like a mid-sized tree trunk vase but much heavier. It is unswung with no signature or pontil mark and wonderful multi- colored iridescence. There is no damage or wear noted. The base is iridescent, like most of the vases made by Rindskopf.

The manufacturer of this vase is not known for certain at this time. There are Forty Niner tumblers known with no known manufacturer. The seller had identified it as Bohemian glass and that is where the Rindskopf factory was located. Rindskopf produced the Forty Niner pattern in a wide variety of shapes. If it was produced by Rindskopf, it was probably produced between 1920 and 1927. Rindskopf declared bankruptcy in 1927 and that ended their glass production. One of the neat features of this vase is that the pattern on the opposite side is mirrored in the diamonds on the facing side.

Unlike the monsters previously mentioned, the existence of this monstrous vase was unknown until now. There is joy in finding something that you never even dreamed existed.

Photos courtesy of Bob Patterson.

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