While the early 20th Century glassmaking plant at Indiana, Pennsylvania, is not now particularly well regarded for its cobalt blue carnival glass, both Dugan and Diamond produced it in well over 40 patterns and several shapes.  But for the most part, they made it in small amounts. No doubt wishing to compete with other firms - notably Fenton and Northwood - that were producing the color. Dugan introduced its cobalt blue in 1912 and Diamond continued to make it throughout the teens and perhaps into the very early 1920's.

These firms' cobalt is consistent in its high quality of base color (a deep shade), but varies tremendously in quality of iridescence.  Some pieces – like many Stork and Rushes pitchers and tumblers – usually display gorgeous multicolor highlights.  But the surface appearance of much of the firms’ cobalt output is lackluster, sometimes silvery – like that on most Beaded Baskets and many Grape Delight rose bowls, mine included.  Those who collect Dugan and Diamond blue are often forced to settle for what they can find, much like collectors of Millersburg blue do.  This isn’t like collecting these Pennsylvania companies’ – especially Dugan’s - amethyst, purple, and oxblood where pieces with outstanding color can be found, with patience and over time.

The longer I study carnival glass made by these firms, the more convinced I have become that Dugan’s cobalt, as well as its silvery purple and oxblood, was marketed as “gun metal” and “steel”,  I have wondered, too, if those who applied the sprays actually intended for these pieces to turn out this way and if the company advertised and offered “steel” and “gun metal” as a way to unload an inferior product.  We’ll probably never know for sure.

Rare as some Dugan and Diamond blue is, few pieces bring top dollar, partly because the iridescence is often less than stunning and partly because these companies’ blue hasn’t caught on like Millersburg blue has.  Yet, there are Dugan-Diamond blue patterns and shapes – e.g., Fisherman’s and Stork and Rushes mug, Persian Garden small plates – that regularly bring high prices.  Pieces in other patterns and shapes with outstanding color – like a Question Marks bon-bon and a Leaf Rays nappy -  have brought good prices -- $700 and $610, respectively, in 2006.  But rare and nice bowls with good color generally bring modest prices at auction -- live and online.  Among these are Dogwood Sprays, Grape Arbor, Wreathed Cherry, and, as far as I know, the first reported Peach and Pear. If they hadn't been reproduced, God and Home water sets would probably be considered the premiere Dugan-Diamond cobalt. assuming they were made at Indiana, Penn.  If this water set isn't the top-rated dark blue, the rare Many Fruits punch set almost certainly would be.  Both sets almost always bring top dollar when they sell.

In the accompanying tables, I lay out the patterns and shapes that I know of or that have been reported in cobalt blue and, as well as I have been able to determine, their availability.  In those cases where I haven’t been able definitively to verify a pattern’s and/or shape’s existence, I have placed a question mark in parentheses and have left the availability cell blank.  For a good deal of what I’ve learned, I am indebted to Carl O. Burns for the research he reported in Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass: 1909-1931, Lee Markley for syntheses on water sets he’s put together for The Carnival Pump, Dave Doty for the information he has posted on his website, and Tom and Sharon Mordini for listings in their annual price reports.

I consider that I have reported here as a work in progress.  If you have additional information or can correct errors, I invite you to share what you know:  Larry Keig, 1614 Merner Ave., Cedar Falls, IA 50613; 319.266.5044; larry.keig@cfu.net .

Dugan-Diamond's Cobalt Blue Patterns - Page 1 of 2

Dugan-Diamond's Cobalt Blue Patterns - Page 2 of 2