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Lattice & Points/Vining Twigs
Lattice and Points / Vining Twigs

Over the years, Dugan's Lattice and Points/Vining Twigs, especially the vases and plates, and to some degree the hat shapes and bowls, have gained respectability with collectors.  Yet, much of what has been written in reference books is inaccurate or confusing.  In this article, I hope to clarify the distinctions between the Lattice and Points and the Vining Twigs patterns and among them and another which bears a striking resemblance.

The primary pattern - the exterior of all shapes - is easy to identify on sight but difficult to describe.  The “lattice” and “points,” which cover most of the surface, look like diamonds of different shapes, depending on height and/or diameter.  Below the lattice and points on the vases and hats, and toward the base of the bowls and plates, are a narrow “rope” (or “vine”) and, just above the bottom rim, “treebark.”  Some pieces are patterned on the interior with a stylized daisy with 20 petals in the center, framed by stippled lattice-work; the interiors of other pieces are plain.  Some pieces have souvenir lettering enameled on them.   

Under the listing for Grapevine Lattice in Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass, Carl Burns states, “I may be called to task on this, but I'm convinced Lattice & Points and Vining Twigs are slight variations on the same design, and, even more importantly, all known shapes in these two patterns were fashioned from the tumbler mold to the Grapevine Lattice water set” (p. 98).  I am willing to concede, and agree, that the three patterns are similar.  However, not all shapes could have been made from the same mold because the base diameters of the different shapes vary considerably: Grapevine Lattice tumblers, just over 2½ inches; Lattice and Points/Vining Twigs hat shapes, bowls, plates, and most - if not all - vases, slightly over 2¾ inches.  (More on the base diameter of the vases will follow.)

Claiming that Lattice and Points, and Vining Twigs, are the same pattern is also problematic.  In my view, this is like saying that Farmyard, Petal and Fan, (Dugan's) Smooth Rays, and Dugan's collar-based Cherries bowls are the same because all four have a Jeweled Heart exterior.  Confusing matters even further, Bill Edwards and Mike Carwile, in The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass (7th ed.), say, “Pressed into the bottom is the daisy design often found on the Vining Twigs bowl and indeed the Lattice and Points vase was pulled from the same mould” (p. 220).  To distinguish between the two patterns, I suggest we make the distinctions articulated years ago by Marion Hartung: Lattice and Points for pieces with the daisy interior (Fourth Book of Carnival Glass, pp. 14-15); Vining Twigs for those with no interior pattern (Sixth Book of Carnival Glass, p. 74).

In A Field Guide to Carnival Glass, Dave Doty lists and prices Lattice and Points vases that are 3½ inches tall as well as taller ones.  My guess is that the “short” vases are Grapevine Lattice because they - at least the jack-in-the-pulpit examples in Barb and Don Chamberlain's and my collections -- have base diameters of just over 2¼ inches and are unpatterned on the interior, like tumblers in this pattern.  Here I believe Burns and I agree.  Under Grapevine Lattice in the Dugan book, he lists and describes hat shapes and vases, but indicating no sizes.  Thus, I suspect that the short vases listed under Lattice and Points in Doty's book are Grapevine Lattice (although I don't know that for sure) and that the taller ones are either Lattice and Points or Vining Twigs.

If we restore Mrs. Hartung's distinctions between Lattice and Points, and Vining Twigs, and I think we should, it would be helpful to know exactly what shapes and colors were made in each pattern, but I can't tell you that with certainty.  From the examples I've seen and owned, Lattice and Points pieces are more plentiful than Vining Twigs.  At this point, I can only summarize the shapes and colors available in general, combining those for Lattice and Points and for Vining Twigs.  I ask readers to help me identify exactly which are available with the daisy on the interior and which have the plain interior so, at some point, I can update this report.  I am indebted to Burns's and Doty's research and Tom and Sharon Mordini's Carnival Glass Auction Prices, and relied on my own collecting experience and study, for the following information.

Shapes and Colors

Hat Shapes (height, c. 3½-4½ inches; usually 8-ruffled): marigold, amethyst and purple, white, *peach opal, pastel marigold or clambroth, **pastel marigold or clambroth opal

Vases (height, 6½ -9 inches; almost all with 6 flattened-panel, crimped tops): marigold, amethyst and purple, white, *peach opal, pastel marigold or clambroth, *lavender, **cobalt blue (any color with a more ruffled, “double spout” top edge is rare)

Bowls (top diameter, 7-7½ inches; most have ruffled top edges): marigold, *amethyst and purple, white, pastel marigold or clambroth

Plates, flat (c. 7½ inches): **marigold, **peach opal, **white
Note: scarce, *; rare, **.

Reports on shapes and colors, further information, and corrections can be directed to Dr. Larry Keig, 1614 Merner Ave., Cedar Falls, IA  50613.  Telephone: (319) 266-5044.  E-Mail: larry.keig@cfu.net, placing Lattice and Points in the subject line.   


A Few Words on Vaseline Glass   ·   A Lesson in Toxic Issues   ·   A Personal Reflection into Fenton Past   ·   America the Beautiful   ·   Beginners Journey   ·   Brocaded Roses by Central Glass   ·   Don Grizzle and His NW Jardiniere   ·   Famous Last Words   ·   Fenton Dragon & Lotus   ·   Fishscale & Beads   ·   Frank M. Fenton   ·   Grapevine Lattice   ·   In Memory Of George Loescher   ·   Lattice & Points/Vining Twigs   ·   My First True Love ~aka~ Cosmos & Cane   ·   My First Days of Carnival Glass Collecting   ·   Popularity  VS.  Actual Rarity   ·   The Different Millersburg Peacock Molds   ·   The Myths and Mysteries of Straw Marks   ·   The Stuff We Prize is Just on Loan   ·   Thoughts From Fay   ·   What A Message   ·   Wholesale vs. Retail


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