Those Other Open Edge Pieces
by Barb Chamberlain
Kate Lavelle did an excellent job covering the Open Edge hat or basket shapes in the September issue of The Carnival Pump. I thought it would be a good companion to Kate’s article to discuss the other shapes available in this pattern, as well as the Blackberry Open Edge sister pattern.
Two row Open Edge pieces also include bowls. The majority of these were made in the ice cream shape, but there is also an ice blue ruffled bowl known. These ice cream shape bowls have sold only in the pastel colors of celeste, ice blue, ice green, and white.
Above left is the ice cream shaped two row Open Edge bowl in ice blue. The plate to the right is the only one blue that I have seen in the six and one-‐half inch size. Note that it doesn’t have the blackberry interior.
There are a couple of eight-inch plates, one in marigold and one that sold in 2000 in vaseline opal. An unusual small six and one-‐half inch blue plate with no blackberry interior seems to be the only one reported in this size. Another orphan in this pattern is a red rose bowl shape where the edges had been slightly flared and then turned toward the center.
Above left is the very unusual red rose bowl shaped two row Open Edge piece, which was possibly a lunchbox piece.
In addition to the two-row version of Open Edge, there is a lesser-seen three row version. To my knowledge, this three-row version features no interior pattern. The three-row version can vary in shape: ruffled, two sides up, ice cream shape, and square. Surprisingly these are more often found in pastels, but there are a few vivid colored ones that have sold. Marigold might be the least often seen color and so far, only found in the two sides up style. Amethyst also is rarely found.
Three hard to find three row Open Edge pieces are from left: an amethyst ruffled bowl, a marigold two sides up banana bowl, and a celeste blue with metal base attached.
Jim Seeck has sold two celeste blue three row two-sides up banana bowls which are supported by metal bases. Whether these were done that way at the factory or fitted with the holders later is not known.
Another three row Open Edge rarity is the 9 1/2-inch plate. These are known only in ice blue and white. The ice blue plate had been displayed in the Fenton Museum but was sold at auction when Fenton closed its doors.
Blackberry Open Edge pieces were also made in numerous hat shapes. A ring of blackberries is found on the interior of the basketweave exterior. These are normally larger than the two row Open Edge pieces, although there are a few of these larger hat shapes with plain interiors which are the size of the Blackberry ones.
Shapes found in addition to the hat shape basket pieces include bowls which are about seven inches in diameter in amberina, amethyst, blue, green, lime green, red, red slag, and white. The amethyst and blue bowls seem to be a bit more common than the other colors.
An unusual shape is this flared bowl, which was possibly how this piece was taken from the mold before being shaped into the hat/ basket or plate shapes.
There are also blue, marigold, and white Blackberry Open Edge plates which were fashioned from the same mold while the glass was still pliable. These plates are seldom seen and highly sought if they come up for sale.
The three known colors in Blackberry Open Edge plates are white, blue, and marigold. Note that the 7 1/2” plates all have the blackberry interior, and the blue 6 1/2” plate earlier in this article has no interior pattern.
Another highly desirable shape in the Blackberry Open Edge pattern is the vase shape. These have only been seen in marigold, blue, and a light powder blue. They range in size from about five and three-fourth inches in height to seven or eight inches. One carnival glass website says the vases may be found without the berries, but the only vases I have seen show the berries on the base running up the sides.
These three vases represent the colors that have been found in the Blackberry Open Edge vases – blue, marigold, and light powder blue.
To many, the most desirable piece to own would be the spittoon shape. A blue Blackberry Open Edge spittoon sold in 2010, and a marigold is said to exist also.
If you have something unusual in this pattern or a color that hasn’t been reported, please contact me at dbcham@iowatelecom.net or 124 E. Honey Creek Dr., Manchester, IA 52057. Please include a photo and a note to clarify what the piece is so that I may include the info in a future issue of The Carnival Pump.
Most photos courtesy of Seeck Auctions.
This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the December 2016 issue and is reprinted with permission.