Preliminary identification

Jefferson Glass Company 'Iris with Meander' Green Opalescent Footed Bowl, c.1903

Photo reference

4 uploaded photos

Overview

An exquisite antique green opalescent glass footed bowl featuring the classic 'Iris with Meander' pattern. The piece showcases a striking ruffled, crimped rim with a milky-white opalescent edge that contrasts beautifully against the vibrant green glass body and its patterned pedestal base.

Story

Introduced around 1903, this pattern captured the era's obsession with the natural world. The delicate iris petals and winding 'meander' lines were designed to catch the flickering glow of early gaslight. It represents a brief, beautiful moment when American glassmakers turned functional tableware into affordable domestic art.

Maker / Origin

The Jefferson Glass Company was founded in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1900 before relocating to Follansbee, West Virginia, in 1907. They became legendary pioneers of opalescent pressed glass, competing directly with giants like Fenton and Northwood. Their mastery of chemical glass formulas allowed them to produce some of the most vibrant, fiery opalescence of the early 20th century.

Condition & Value

The bowl appears to be in excellent antique condition with no visible chips, cracks, or flea bites along the delicate ruffled rim. The square footed base shows clean corners, which are highly prone to damage. There is minor shelf wear on the bottom of the base, consistent with age. Excellent condition commands a premium.

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.