The Colors of Joyce Seale : Marigold

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Marigold
Of all the many amazing and beautiful colors in carnival glass, the one that nearly anyone who has heard of carnival glass will remember first is marigold. Marigold carnival glass is still in large abundance in antique malls and shops, and most people who "used" carnival glass dishes as children more often than not had marigold in their kitchen. That being said, the common color of carnival glass can yield some uncommon beauty. Furthermore, marigold isn't just plain marigold these days: it includes pumpkin, pastel marigold, and every shade in between.

Below are some of the top examples of marigold seen today, and Joyce was able to nab them for her collection. Some of her fondest memories are of adding a beautiful example of marigold to her collection, and she is sad to part ways with many of these pieces. The Acorn Burrs pitcher below has deep, rich iridescence running from top to bottom. It is always unusual to find deep marigold across the entirety of a piece for the simple fact that, unlike nearly every other color in carnival glass, marigold is simply the iridescence applied to clear glass. Tricky! The Diamond Points Bushel Basket is dripping with beautiful marigold iridescence that is accentuated with yellows and blues.

Left: Acorn Burrs pitcher. Right: Diamond Points Bushel Basket.
To see a larger version of the pictures above, click one.

The two pieces below are really great examples of marigold done well. The Peacock Tail 9" plate has strong color throughout, and the Stag & Holly chop plate is one of those definitive marigold pieces that screams to be in your collection.

Left: Peacock Tail 9" plate. Right: Stag and Holly chop plate.

And then there is the Hearts and Flowers plate. Simply put, this is a screaming piece of marigold that is paired with one of carnival glass' most loved patterns. Ouch! The stippled Peacock at Urn master ice cream bowl shows off why stippling and marigold can work together oh so well.

Left: Hearts and Flowers plate. Right: Stippled Peacock at Urn master ice cream bowl.

This Little Daisies round bowl has so much depth of color that it merges perfectly with the pattern to give the piece an inner shimmering effect that is breathtaking. The Butterfly ornament is a lovely, whimsical piece of marigold magic.

Left: Little Daisies round bowl. Right: Butterfly ornament.

Okay, how can this Rose Show Variant 9" plate be marigold? It is! Beautiful blues and purples mix into the marigold iridescence to make this piece transcendent. How cool would it look in your collection? This Concord 9" plate brings the greens and purples to give it a very attractive natural feel.

Left: Rose Show Variant Plate. Right: 9" Concord Plate.

The final two plates featured in this article show off the versatility of marigold. The Thistle plate offers beautiful pastel-type iridescence with multiple colors, while the Poppy Show plate runs towards pumpkin, with deep marigolds, reds, pinks and yellows glowing from the surface of the glass.

Left: Thistle 9" plate. Right: Poppy Show 9" plate.

The pieces will sell Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Embassy Suites Kansas City International Airport by the Seeck Auction Company. To learn more about the Heart of America Carnival Glass Association's convention, of which this auction is a part, please visit HOACGA's website at www.hoacga.org.