Viking Glass Item 1119
This page has been dedicated to a specific set of vintage glassware that we will mostly refer to as bowls or artifacts, based on their shape and age. We know these artifacts were produced in 1964 by the Viking Glass Company, as part of their Epic line, in or around New Martinsville, West Virginia, USA. They are noted in the 1964 Viking Catalog and 1964 Price Guide, but no other Viking Catalogs available from the West Virginia Museum of American Glass nor those archived by Preston Ver Meer reference or display them.
The six-petal design was introduced in 1962. Though, again, this particular item was neither mentioned nor shown in the 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 nor any other Viking Catalogs or inserts. It appeared only in 1964. As such, they were likely produced for one to four years, at most, making them a comparatively limited run and much rarer than other items that were produced over decades.
They are documented as having been hand blown in a variety of colors, six of which are displayed here, but only five colors were noted in the 1964 Viking Price Guide, which referenced this offering as item 1119. The Ruby (or red) artifact may have been newer in 1964 and the Teaberry Lilac (or purple) had not appeared yet or had already been discontinued for this particular item. The Teaberry color, later referred to as Teaberry Lilac, was noted in 1961 for other items. Since that color does not exist in historical reference materials for item 1119, the possibility of additional colors remains.
These were originally advertised as cigar ashtrays or tobacciana. They have since been repurposed as candy dishes, trinket bowls, ceremonial sage holders and, our favorite, palantiri conduits... second favorite, Infinity Bowls. Several similar vintage art glass products made by Viking and others were produced in the same era, but these particular commodities were distinct in their thickness, weight, curvature, symmetry and clearly demarcated hemispherical central concavity. While slight variations exist in size and shape, these bowls are remarkably standardized and symmetrical.
Each bowl is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) tip to tip, depending on how flatly the petals are arranged. While measurements vary slightly between bowls, uniformity and symmetry within each bowl appears to be very consistent. As a result, height ranges from about 5 to 6.5 centimeters (2 to 2.5 inches). Each bowl also weighs between 2 and 2.5 pounds, averaging 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). When weighed, our current set is as follows:
The six-petal design was introduced in 1962. Though, again, this particular item was neither mentioned nor shown in the 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 nor any other Viking Catalogs or inserts. It appeared only in 1964. As such, they were likely produced for one to four years, at most, making them a comparatively limited run and much rarer than other items that were produced over decades.
They are documented as having been hand blown in a variety of colors, six of which are displayed here, but only five colors were noted in the 1964 Viking Price Guide, which referenced this offering as item 1119. The Ruby (or red) artifact may have been newer in 1964 and the Teaberry Lilac (or purple) had not appeared yet or had already been discontinued for this particular item. The Teaberry color, later referred to as Teaberry Lilac, was noted in 1961 for other items. Since that color does not exist in historical reference materials for item 1119, the possibility of additional colors remains.
These were originally advertised as cigar ashtrays or tobacciana. They have since been repurposed as candy dishes, trinket bowls, ceremonial sage holders and, our favorite, palantiri conduits... second favorite, Infinity Bowls. Several similar vintage art glass products made by Viking and others were produced in the same era, but these particular commodities were distinct in their thickness, weight, curvature, symmetry and clearly demarcated hemispherical central concavity. While slight variations exist in size and shape, these bowls are remarkably standardized and symmetrical.
Each bowl is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) tip to tip, depending on how flatly the petals are arranged. While measurements vary slightly between bowls, uniformity and symmetry within each bowl appears to be very consistent. As a result, height ranges from about 5 to 6.5 centimeters (2 to 2.5 inches). Each bowl also weighs between 2 and 2.5 pounds, averaging 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). When weighed, our current set is as follows:
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Bluenique 1: 912 grams (2.011 pounds)
Bluenique 2: 958 grams (2.112 pounds) Teaberry Lilac (1): 970 grams (2.156 pounds) Honey (1): 978 grams (2.161 pounds) Avocado Green (1): 982 grams (2.165 pounds) |
Ruby 1: 1000 grams (2.205 pounds)
Ruby 2: 1026 grams (2.262 pounds) Persimmon 1: 996 grams (2.196 pounds) Persimmon 2: 1018 grams (2.244 pounds) Persimmon 3: 1098 grams (2.421 pounds) |
Per the Journal and Antiques and Collectibles: "Viking introduced a burst of color into its product lines in 1951, first with evergreen, amber, ebony, cobalt blue, sky blue, and ruby colors, and then in 1953 adding amethyst, charcoal, cherry glo, colonial blue, harvest gold, and olive green to the mix. New colors continued to be added into the 1960s but by 1964, the Company had reduced the number of color choices from over 30 to seven: amberina, avocado green, bluenique, crystal, honey, persimmon, and ruby." - (correction) The 1964 Viking Glass Catalog listed ten colors across multiple items: amethyst, avocado green, bluenique, colonial blue, emerald, crystal, honey, persimmon, ruby, and tawny.
While many glass makers began using alternatives to precious metal inclusion in the 1950s and 1960s, Viking Glass continued to use gold in the production of ruby red glass during the early 1960s, including in 1964. The process of creating ruby glass typically involved adding gold chloride to the glass mixture, which imparted the distinctive deep red color. The use of gold was expensive, but it produced a vibrant color that was highly sought after. Other metallic oxides could create similar colors, but the depth and quality of the ruby red achieved with gold was often unmatched.
Item 1119 listed for $3.50 or $4.50 in 1964, which equated to about $35.40 or $45.51 in 2024, an increase of 911.34% over 60 years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. These prices reflect an item that is new and readily available, rather than vintage and scarce, which would be expected to carry a premium.
Color variation between bowls also varies slightly with some blue artifacts being ever-so-slightly greener overall and some orange artifacts ranging from fully transparent and light to noticeably darker and ever-so-slightly opaque, giving an almost frosted character. These slight variations support the claim that the bowls were individually hand blown. The current set has earned an enduring place online as a tribute to its awesomeness.
We collected six distinct colors and several variants over five years of routine Internet scouring, attesting to their rarity. Seems that very few remain in circulation these days. As artifacts, they are incredible and warrant high value for their beauty and function, whatever that function may be.
Item 1119 listed for $3.50 or $4.50 in 1964, which equated to about $35.40 or $45.51 in 2024, an increase of 911.34% over 60 years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. These prices reflect an item that is new and readily available, rather than vintage and scarce, which would be expected to carry a premium.
Color variation between bowls also varies slightly with some blue artifacts being ever-so-slightly greener overall and some orange artifacts ranging from fully transparent and light to noticeably darker and ever-so-slightly opaque, giving an almost frosted character. These slight variations support the claim that the bowls were individually hand blown. The current set has earned an enduring place online as a tribute to its awesomeness.
We collected six distinct colors and several variants over five years of routine Internet scouring, attesting to their rarity. Seems that very few remain in circulation these days. As artifacts, they are incredible and warrant high value for their beauty and function, whatever that function may be.
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