Vintage Imperial Glass Vase Acanthus Pear Frosted Crystal Celery Urn Footed 8.5"
£35.00
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Vintage Imperial Glass Vase Acanthus Pear Frosted Crystal Celery Urn Footed 8.5"
£35.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Pressed Crystal Footed Celery Vase / Frosted Intaglio Art Glass Centerpiece Urn
- Pattern Variant: Acanthus & Fruit (Alternatively Pear & Pineapple No. 400 Series)
- Brand: Imperial Glass Corporation
- Manufacturer: Imperial Glass Co. (Bellaire, Ohio, USA)
- MPN: Pattern Acanthus Fruit
- Place of Origin: United States of America (USA)
- Style: Mid-Century American Art Glass / Traditional Revival / Elegant Glassware
- Colour: Crystal Clear Bright Flint Glass / Satin Frosted Optical Intaglios
- Design Era: Mid-Century Vintage Period (c. 1960s)
- Material: Heavy-Gauge Kiln-Melted High-Clarity Crystal
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Substantial 8.5-Inch Tall Hexagonal Stemmed Footed Vase
- Features: Stepped Scalloped Castle Rim, Acid-Etched Satin Frosted Fruit Medallions, Hexagonal Faceted Pedestal Stem, Cross-Hatched Pineapple Relief panels, and Deep Diamond Point Geometric Fields
- Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition (The heavy crystal matrix is beautifully preserved; the glass remains bright and uniform, entirely free from perimeter chips, internal clouding fog, or modern ground-edge restorations as itemised below)
- Size and Capacity: Stands a substantial 8.5 inches in total height profile (approx. 21.6 cm). The top rim opening measures approximately 4.25 inches across (approx. 10.8 cm), with a circular base foot diameter of 3.5 inches (approx. 8.9 cm).
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This elegant tableware centerpiece dates to the mid-century vintage period (c. 1960s). The specific industrial signatures—including the combination of highly complex geometric pressed molds with contrasting acid-frosted fruit panels, the multi-faceted architectural configuration of the hexagonal stem, and the density of the clear crystal formula—are definitive diagnostics perfectly identifying Imperial lines produced in Ohio during this collectible era of American "Elegant Glass" production.
- Historical Note: Founded in 1901 in Bellaire, Ohio, the Imperial Glass Corporation stood as an absolute giant of American glassmaking innovation, globally famous for their Carnival and elegant glass patterns. During the mid-20th century, formal British and American dining traditions celebrated the "Celery Vase"—a tall, highly decorative footed urn designed specifically to present crisp celery stalks over ice cubes during the salad course of a dinner party. To bring a luxurious, hand-carved look to suburban homes, Imperial designers engineered complex iron molds covered in sharp diamond-point grids. After the hot liquid glass was pressed and cooled, craftsmen selectively applied acid-masking compounds to frost the central pear and pineapple panels, generating a beautiful, velvet-like contrast that caught changing room lighting elegantly.
Description
A beautifully architectural and exceptionally brilliant acquisition for collectors of American elegant glass, traditional tablescape stagers, or vintage centerpiece curators, this 8.5-inch footed Imperial glass urn is brimming with historic elegance. The body rises from a wide circular foot up into a deeply faceted hexagonal pedestal stem, before expanding into a robust bowl framed by a stepped, sawtooth castle rim. The exterior is masterfully decorated with alternating panels of high-relief diamond grids and smooth, satin-frosted medallions showcasing orchard pears and pineapples, creating a magnificent prismatic look from any dining table angle.
Expert Identification & Glasscraft Features:
- Authentic Imperial Geometry: The multi-paneled botanical layout provides an imposing, highly architectural silhouette that beautifully showcases mid-century American craft.
- Satin Frosted Intaglios: The pear and pineapple motifs are acid-etched into a smooth, matte finish, highlighting the delicate leaf veins and textured skin details against the clear crystal.
- Hexagonal Pedestal Balance: Formed with a thick, strategically weighted faceted stem that lowers the center of gravity to ensure absolute stability when filled with long-stemmed floral displays.
- High-Refractive Crystal Matrix: Cast using a premium, dense glass formula that avoids the dull green tones of mass-market utility glass, producing a bright bell-like ring when handled.
Condition Report
This vintage Imperial glass urn is in excellent condition, showcasing phenomenal structural preservation and displaying beautifully. The heavy-gauge crystal body is completely solid, rigid, and complete, entirely free from deep structural hairline fractures, internal clouding bloom patches, or hidden ground-rim alterations. The complex stepped scalloped top rim is beautifully preserved, completely free from the sharp impact flea bites or jagged missing tips that routinely plague vintage utility glass. The internal well is clean and free from historic water-line lime scaling or scratching. The underside base ring rests completely level on display surfaces without rocking. Please examine the detailed macro photos to confirm the pristine edge profiles and verify the physical scale.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: This heavy, complex glass vase will be packed using professional survival cushioning methods. The urn will be insulated inside soft tissue sheets to protect the frosted panels, encased within heavy-gauge bubble wrapping, nested tightly inside a custom inner box, and then floating within an oversized rigid outer container padded entirely with loose-fill packing peanuts to completely neutralise impact shock waves during transit.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.