We were asked to put together a document that would assist us in being able to more correctly identify colors of pieces sold at auction, so this is the result of that request.
First, the caveats:
In the carnival glass collecting community, through the years colors have been assigned that do NOT match those color names in other venues (color wheel, gemstone, etc.) but that are rather locked in place and will be called something specific in our hobby. [As an example, Sapphire Blue in a gemstone may look more Blue or even closer to Violet Blue than the color we have assigned in carnival glass collecting.]
Second, colors can look different on each person’s device or monitor (as well as with a different photo background).
Third – some colors seem to be very much manufacturer specific (i.e. Violet Blue is, to date, only found on Imperial patterns).
Fourth – when we started collecting some 35 years ago, almost any light blue base with an opalescent edge was thrown into the ‘Aqua Opalescent’ classification, and many of them, using this document, will not be correct. We will attempt to sort them out over a period of time.
And lastly, because often you don’t have something to compare, it is exceedingly difficult to remain consistent. We do our best to stay the course, but there will always be points of contention.These are the blue shades currently in the Hooked on Carnival database as of July 2021.
Aqua (Sits between green and blue in the color wheel.)
Aqua/Marigold Overlay (Sits between green and blue in the color wheel – the glass has a marigold iridescence that may cover almost the entire piece – usually leaving the feet or base as the only real way to tell the color.)
Aqua Opal (Aqua Opalescent – Aqua base color with white or light blue, milky edge or tips). In carnival glass, MANY pieces that are actually a different shade of blue (but with an opal edge) are classified as Aqua Opal. Incorrect, BUT because there is no ‘color wheel’ for us, that is the term.
The Corn Vase below looks a true Aqua Opal, the Tree Trunk vases run the gamut from what looks like Aqua Opal to Blue Opal or Sapphire Blue Opal, but they were all classified as Aqua Opal.)
You will need to go by the pattern as much as by the actual color.
Aqua Opal Butterscotch (Aqua Base color with white or light blue, milky edge or tips AND has a predominantly marigold/orangey iridescence.)
The top two left Tree Trunk vases could be classified as Aqua Opal Butterscotch. The Corn Vase has some marigold/orangey on the top 1/3 but would probably not be as likely to be called Butterscotch.
Aqua Opal Pastel (Aqua Base color with white or light blue, milky edge or tips AND has a predominantly light iridescence with blues/pinks/yellows– very easy to see the base glass color.)
The same issue is seen with this color as the other two variations of Aqua Opal – often the actual blue tone in the base is NOT aqua, BUT with many patterns, no matter the actual shade of blue, it will be reported as Aqua Opal Pastel. This phenomenon is usually pattern based.
