March 15th, 2010 @ Kathy // 2 Comments
Petal Crystal Bowl Handled Tidbit Federal Glass
This week I’m visiting our daughter and her family and that prompted this post. Our daughter collects Petal from Federal Glass and has an amazing collection of colors and shapes. She started this fun hobby about 10 years ago when we went to a flea market and she found an iridescent plate she loved. Since then she’s bought glass on eBay and on antiquing trips with me.
Federal made Petal in the 1950s and 60s and possibly even later into the early 1970s. There are 6 or 7 basic shapes, three sizes of plates, four sizes of bowls and a candle holder like a hurricane lamp. Don’t let these few pieces make you think this is a small pattern. Federal Glass and other after market companies combined the bowls into tidbits like the center handled server shown, two- and three-layered tidbits, a jelly server, angel pedestal compote and so on.
Clear (or crystal) Petal is the most common. Besides clear you can find a soft green, dark green, Sun Gold which is yellow, amber, blue, iridescent, iridescent brown, purple and red. Some of these are flashed colors and some are colored glass. I believe the reds and purple are all flashed while the brown, yellow, amber and light green are colored glass. Our daughter has almost every piece in every color.
What makes me happiest about seeing her collection is that she rotates pieces out on display. She can’t put everything out so she has 5 or 6 pieces scattered through the house and she puts different ones out at different times. Right now she has bananas and tangerines in a Sun Gold medium sized bowl and a center handled red tidbit on the hallway table. I always like to see people enjoy their glass and use it. This glass was made to use and enjoy – so use it, enjoy it and share your enjoyment with your friends.
If you like this pattern please see our selection in Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass online store. It’s like antiquing with your best friend.
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Janet
1 year ago
I don’t actively collect Petal, but I have a few crystal pieces inherited from both my mother and my mother-in-law. I have purchased a few crystal pieces when I find them at extremely inexpensive prices (i.e. 50 cents at thrift shops). Recently I purchased a 4-tier tidbit/bonbonette stand made with crystal bowls (5.5″, 6″, 8.5″ and 10″) and metal dividers & round top handle. Researching the internet and reference books, I can find 1-, 2– and 3-tier stands, but not a 4-tier one. Are they uncommon? I like the pattern; I use it predominately at Easter due to the cross motif in the petal.
Kathy
1 year ago
Thank you for your comment. Yes, I agree with you, the 4-layer tidbit are less common. My daughter collects Petal and has so many pieces. It’s a pretty pattern.