Dugan’s Daisy Web-Tales from the Mad Hatter Part IX
By Kate Lavelle
Welcome one and all to yet another tea party in Carnival Glass Wonderland. I’m always so glad to see a fellow hatter, please do pull up a chair and make yourself at home.
Would you like a tea cake? We’ve warm scones as well. Lady Fingers? No, sorry we’re fresh out, except for the pretty marigold vase. Here’s your cup and saucer. I can never remember; do you prefer one lump or two?
Daisy Web, at least for me, is pure delight to my sight. This distinctive pattern has always been a big hit amongst lovers of hats and well-done Dugan. I remember when I first started collecting hat vases; the acquisition of one of these gems seemed highly unlikely. First and foremost, they’re far from common- place, which of course usually leads to higher prices. Some of the Daisy Web hat vases are so phenomenal that they bring prices up to and over a thousand dollars and then some. According to David Doty’s wonderful website, in 1994 an electric purple crimped JIP example sold for $1,900.
A similarly shaped beauty, photos included here courtesy of Seeck Auctions, just sold at the recent HOACGA 2017 convention auction for $1,250.
The two photos of the Daisy Web hat, above, are two views of the crimped jack-in-the-pulpit that recently sold at the HOACGA auction. Photos courtesy of Dick and Sherry Betker.
Alternatively, some of the less spectacular specimens can be had for considerably less, in particular marigold. Although by no means cheap, they can be more affordable in general. Keep in mind that no matter what color the base glass is, if the iridescence is poor, the final price will reflect that. If it’s spectacular, you’re going to pay more than a little. Speaking of iridescence, this is another one of those patterns by Dugan, and a few other companies, where exterior iridescence was not always applied.
Above are two views of a marigold two sides up, crimped edge Daisy Web hat belonging to the Chamberlains. Photos courtesy of the Chamberlains.
Daisy Web does come in a limited variety of forms. They can be ruffled, crimped, JIP form (usually crimped) two sides up with a plain or a crimped edge and there are even crimped tri-corners. Colors are even more limited. The usually seen base glass colors are purple or marigold. There are old reports of blue and peach opal as well, but the Hatter cannot find definitive proof or photos of either of these to present to you. Remember; never say never in Carnival Glass, as anything is possible in Carnival Glass Land.
The interior pattern features a daisy shaped blossom in the center of the bottom. This is then surrounded by eight panels of “drapes” or “web” that fade towards eight small daisy like flowers near the top edge. These flowers are difficult to see when the piece has been stretched out by the various edge treatment techniques.
First photo from Seecks, shows an electric purple two sides up hat. The rest of the photos are by Kate Lavelle. The second picture shows the Daisy Web shaped blossom is seen with the interior bottom. The center photo shows the amethyst crimped tri-corner hat photo, while the marigold is shown to the right. The far, right, is a marigold crimped edge jack-in-the-pulpit Daisy Web hat.
The exterior pattern is referred to as Beaded Arches and was so aptly named by Dr. Larry Keig. I do recall reading somewhere that only the marigold had completely beaded exterior ovals and that the purple did not. From those I’ve seen, it appears that the upper portions of these beads on the purple ones in particular have become smooshed into near nonexistence by the same edge treatment that nearly obliterates the flowers along the interior top edge. I could be wrong though, unlike glass, I’m only human.
The two photos, above, show a ruffled Daisy Web hat. The lower photo shows the Beaded Arches exterior pattern. Photos courtesy of Seeck Auctions
What’s that? You’re homeward bound? Well, thanks for stopping by again for a spot of tea. Remember it’s always tea time in Wonderland and that you’re always as welcome as the flowers of May. Safe travels, mind the Red Queen, ignore the March Hare and see you next time you’re out this way again!
This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the June 2017 issue and is reprinted with permission.