Imperial Grape Compotes
By Ardonna Bucher
Thought I would share the Imperial Grape Compotes I’ve collected. I’ve only found 9 colors so far. I’ve never seen any IB, IG or Opal ones (Note: there are contemporary in some of these colors). If any one has one or has heard of them please share it.
This is the Aqua. It’s not as easy to find. It took me awhile to find it. The second one is a dark Amber. It has lots of gold iridescence which complements the Amber.
These compotes all have 6 ruffles. The exteriors have 4 clusters of grapes with leaves and a cable runs around the top, The interior has a rays pattern with 3 lines that remind me of rick-rack that runs around the bowl. In the bottom of the bowl there is a cluster of grapes with leaves. Most of mine have stippling in the bowl part inside and out. They stand 4 3/4″ to 5″ tall and 5 3/4″ across.
This is the last Imperial Grape Compote I bought. We were on our way to Wichita and stopped in Greensburg. The lady had new and old CG. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the IB Compote. But, the thrill ended when I picked it up and saw the I G on the bottom. The exterior looks the same as the old, but the interior is plain, the stem is threaded but much thicker and the foot is plain. It does have the four mold marks. It’s shorter than my old ones.
The purple and lavender compotes have already been shown. I don’t see that many lavender ones, but I see purple ones advertised.
This is the olive green. It has a little more yellow coloring. I don’t know how plentiful these are, but they’re pretty.
This is the helios green. It has some color and the silvery iridescence you find on that green. It shows the threaded stem and foot. The bottom of the foot has 24 rays. All of mine have 6 ruffles.
The smoke one was the one that started it all. We were in an indoor flea market near Ft. Collins, Colo. I was walking down the aisle and I saw the beautiful iridescence on this little compote and it was only $15. I think smoke is a more difficult color to find. I was lucky.
Gary Licker found this pretty pastel compote. A rare color, clambroth. It’s hard to show the dainty pastel colors that are on it. I haven’t seen another, but I’m sure there must be more.
The last one is probably the most plentiful and easiest to find: Marigold.
The exterior of these compotes consists of 4 rather large clusters of grapes and leaves with a cable running near the top. The bowl part is stippled. The interior has a rayed pattern and near the top there are 3 lines that remind me of rick-rack. In the bottom of the bowl there is one cluster of grapes with a leaf. The bowl part is stippled.
