Northwood Glass: Carnival, Custard & Opalescent Art Glass
Northwood Glass Company, founded by Harry Northwood (1860-1919), was one of America's most innovative glass manufacturers. Northwood operated several factories including plants in Martins Ferry, Ohio; Ellwood City, Pennsylvania; and Indiana, Pennsylvania, and finally at Wheeling, West Virginia (1902-1925). The company is best known for its carnival glass, custard glass, and opalescent pressed glass patterns. Harry Northwood, the son of renowned English glass artisan John Northwood, brought European glassmaking expertise to American production, creating some of the most collected patterns in pressed glass history.
Identification & Marks
- Underlined "N" in a circle: The most recognized Northwood mark, used primarily from 1905-1925; found on the base of pressed glass pieces
- Script "Northwood": Used on some earlier production
- Unmarked pieces: Many early Northwood pieces carry no mark; attribution is based on pattern identification and glass characteristics
- Pattern identification: Reference books by Heacock, Hartung, and Burns document hundreds of Northwood patterns
- Glass characteristics: Northwood's opalescent glass has a distinctive milky-white edge effect where the glass is thinnest
Types & Major Lines
- Carnival glass: Iridescent pressed glass in patterns like Grape and Cable, Peacock at the Fountain, Good Luck, and Three Fruits; produced in marigold, purple, green, blue, ice blue, ice green, and white
- Custard glass: Opaque cream-colored glass in patterns like Louis XV, Chrysanthemum Sprig, Geneva, and Argonaut Shell; often decorated with gold and colored enamel
- Opalescent glass: Pressed patterns with milky-white opalescent edges; Spanish Lace, Jewel and Flower, and Drapery are key patterns
- Colored pressed glass: Patterns in emerald green, blue, amethyst, and ruby, sometimes with gold decoration
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival glass bowl (common pattern/color) | $20 | $60 | $200 |
| Carnival glass piece (rare pattern/color) | $200 | $1,000 | $10,000+ |
| Custard glass table set (4 pieces) | $150 | $400 | $1,200 |
| Custard glass rare form | $100 | $300 | $800 |
| Opalescent glass piece (common) | $30 | $80 | $250 |
| Opalescent glass piece (rare color) | $100 | $400 | $1,500 |
Condition Factors
- Gold decoration on custard glass wears easily; pieces retaining 90%+ original gold bring significant premiums
- Carnival glass iridescence should be vivid and unfaded; weak or worn iridescence reduces value substantially
- Chips on pressed glass edges are common; small flakes reduce value by 20-30%, larger chips by 50% or more
- Interior surface wear (from use) is less damaging than rim chips on bowls and plates
- Staining inside custard glass vessels does not significantly affect value
Collecting Tips
- Color is king in carnival glass: rare colors (ice blue, ice green, white, red) in common patterns can be worth more than common colors in rare patterns
- The "N" mark is helpful but not definitive -- it was not used on all pieces, and some non-Northwood glass has been fraudulently marked
- Custard glass is a separate collecting specialty with its own dedicated following; the Louis XV pattern is the most popular
- Learn to distinguish Northwood carnival glass from competitors like Fenton, Millersburg, and Imperial -- pattern guides are essential
- Carnival glass auctions remain very active; specialized carnival glass auctions (like those by Burns Auction) set market prices
- Complete table sets (butter dish, sugar, creamer, spooner) in custard glass bring far more than individual pieces