Ruffled Opalescent Art Glass Pedestal Bowl

This is a vintage hand-blown or mold-blown art glass pedestal bowl, often referred to as a compote or candy dish. The piece features a deep, hand-rolled ruffled or 'crimped' rim that creates a rhythmic wave pattern around the circumference. The glass exhibits a distinct opalescent or 'moonstone' quality, characterized by a milky-white translucence that transitions into clear glass at the very edges of the rim and base. A notable feature is the subtle iridescence visible on the inner surface, catching light in a spectrum of soft blues, pinks, and yellows. The bowl transitions into a clear glass spherical knop or 'ball' stem, which sits upon a circular flared clear glass foot. In terms of construction, the thickness of the glass appears substantial, suggesting a quality mid-century production, likely influenced by the styles of Fenton or Northwood, dating roughly from the 1940s to the 1960s. The condition appears excellent with no visible chips, cracks, or heavy scratching, though a small red price sticker '8-' is present on the outer rim. There are no immediate visible maker's marks or signatures, which is common for such glass house productions of that era.

Based on my visual examination, this is a mid-century opalescent glass compote, likely produced by a North American maker such as Fenton or Jefferson in an 'Antique White' or 'Moonstone' style. The ruffled rim is expertly crimped, showing the hand-finishing characteristic of mid-20th-century American art glass. The milky opalescence is well-distributed, and the clear glass spherical knop provides a classic aesthetic balance popular between 1945 and 1960. The condition appears to be excellent; the absence of visible 'flea bites' or clouding from hard water significantly preserves its retail appeal. In the current secondary market, specifically on platforms like eBay and Etsy, similar opalescent pedestal bowls generally trade within the $40 to $70 range. While these pieces were mass-produced in the glass houses of the Ohio River Valley, they remain popular with interior decorators and glass collectors for their functional elegance. The presence of the '8-' price sticker indicates a historic thrift or flea market sale and does not detract from the glass's value, though it should be removed carefully. This appraisal is limited by the digital format; I cannot verify the presence of a faint acid-etched maker's mark or detect internal structural flaws like hairline fractures that only become visible under UV light or through tactile inspection. A physical examination would be required to confirm the glass's weight and 'ring' when tapped, which helps differentiate high-quality leaded glass from standard soda-lime productions. No formal scientific testing is recommended given the item's established market category.