Warehouse Lot of Cambridge Glass Reissues Sold

Mirror Images (MI), a Michigan based gift ware business, liquidated its remaining stock of two figural Cambridge Glass reissues in mid-1990s. The two figures were the 8 1/2" Draped Lady flower holder and the 6 1/2" Bashful Charlotte flower holder. A combined total of 650 pieces were sold through a Midwestern glass distributor between April and May, 1995.

Imperial Glass made the figures for MI in the 1980s. The Bashful Charlotte figure, marketed by MI as "Venus Rising", was made in 1981; the Draped Lady was made in 1985. Both figures were made in original Cambridge molds which were purchased by Imperial when Cambridge closed. Fortunately, Imperial altered the molds somewhat and it is relatively easy to tell the reissues from Cambridge originals.

The most obvious differences between originals and reissues will be in side surfaces and colors. Original Cambridge flower figure bases are usually smooth-sided, but were being made with Cambridge's new Type III ribbed base by the mid-1950s; bases on reissues always have the vertical ribbing. Collectors should also keep in mind that the Draped Ladies and Bashful Charlottes are today found on ribbed bases in various colors not used by Cambridge Glass. These will be later reproductions made by other companies, not Cambridge originals.

Additional mold work on the Charlotte figure removed the flower holes and made the base hollow. An "81" and Imperial's IG logo appear on most, but not all, of the Charlotte figures on the underneath side of the shoulder of the base.

Draped Lady figures are marked with the letter "I" superimposed over the letter "M" on the underneath side directly under the figure. Like the other marks, this is often difficult to read.

Although the newer figures are collectible in their own right as Imperial Glass, they should not be confused with the Cambridge originals. At the time, an original Cambridge Draped Lady in Moonlight Blue was priced $275-$375.

The Imperial Draped Lady reissue in a virtually identical blue was liquidated at $26 each.

The distributor handling the sale reported that all the Imperial figures were sold within days of being placed on the market. Draped Lady figures were priced $25-$28; Charlotte figures, $15-$17; prices varied according to color.

Fig. 1 Cambridge original, smooth sided base

Fig. 2 Imperial reissue, vertical ribs on base

Fig. 3 Imperial reissue, ribbed base

Figs. 1-3 The sides of most (but not all) original Cambridge flower figures are smooth sided--the Imperial reissues always have vertical ribbing on the sides. Note that the holes have been removed in the base of the Bashful Charlotte but left in the Draped Lady figure.

Fig. 4 MI molded trademark of Mirror Images. These marks are difficult to see because they are up under the base at the bottom of the figure. Visibility of this mark was aided by special photographic lighting.