Antique Marigold Carnival Glass Grape & Cable Serving Set

Offered here is an exceptional early American Carnival Glass serving set in rich marigold iridescence, featuring the highly collectible Grape & Cable motif. This pattern is one of the most iconic and sought-after designs of the Carnival Glass era (circa 1908–1925), admired for its bold fruit-and-vine relief, heavy mold work, and radiant oil-slick iridescence. Set Includes • Pedestal comport / compote with grape clusters, vine leaves, and cable borders • Handled grape bowl (deep with pronounced berry clusters) • Matching leaf-form dishes / berry bowls Pattern & Attribution The Grape & Cable pattern is historically associated with major early U.S. glasshouses such as Northwood, Imperial, and contemporaries, produced during Carnival Glass’s golden age when pressed glass was given metallic salts to achieve its signature iridescent finish. The mold seams, grape articulation, stem treatment, and cable detailing on this set are consistent with early production, not later revival glass. Colour & Iridescence • Deep marigold base glass • Strong multi-spectral iridescence with gold, violet, blue, and green highlights • Excellent light play across raised grape clusters and scalloped rims • No cracks or repairs observed • Typical light shelf wear to bases consistent with age • Crisp mold detail throughout — no softness, indicating minimal use • Iridescence remains vivid and intact Complete or near-complete matching Carnival Glass serving sets are increasingly scarce. Most surviving examples are single pieces; intact groupings like this are actively sought by advanced collectors, especially in marigold, the most historically significant and recognizable Carnival color. This set displays beautifully and represents a museum-quality example of early 20th-century American pressed glass artistry. • Carnival Glass collectors • Northwood / Imperial pattern specialists • Period table or cabinet display • Investment-grade antique glass acquisition Premium applied for matched pattern, color consistency, strong iridescence, and collector desirability. The complete set is priced above the combined individual values due to its matched pattern, consistent marigold color, and uniform iridescence, which are rarely preserved together. Carnival Glass collectors place a significant premium on intact serving groupings, as most surviving examples have been dispersed over the past century. When offered together, sets of this quality are considered display-ready, collection-defining acquisitions, eliminating the time, risk, and expense of piecing together matching examples individually. For advanced collectors, completeness, visual continuity, and originality justify the enhanced lot valuation. Manufacturing & Mold Characteristics: This set was produced using early pressed-glass techniques in carved wooden molds, a standard practice during the peak Carnival Glass period of the early 20th century. The interior surfaces show characteristic straw or “hay” marks, created when natural fibers were used between the hot glass and the wooden mold to prevent sticking during pressing. These marks are widely recognized by collectors as indicators of early production methods, as later metal molds eliminated this feature. The presence of these mold-release marks, along with the depth and sharpness of the pressed grape and cable details, supports attribution to original-period Carnival Glass rather than later reproductions or revival pieces. Wood-mold production resulted in: • Slight, organic surface variations unique to each piece • Deeper, more sculptural relief than later metal-mold pressings • Evidence of early hand-assisted industrial glassmaking These characteristics are valued by advanced collectors as they reflect authentic early manufacture and traditional production methods.