Preliminary identification

Studio Nova 'Sun Valley' Glass Round Cake Plate, c.1980s

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

This is a beautifully textured 12-inch pressed glass cake plate featuring a frosted and embossed woodland scene. Part of the 'Sun Valley' line, it showcases stylized trees and a meadow of wildflowers rendered in a mix of clear, frosted, and heavily textured glass.

Story

Introduced in the 1980s, this plate brought the serene, misty atmosphere of a mountain forest directly to the suburban dining table. It transformed the simple act of serving a cake into a theatrical, nature-inspired presentation.

Maker / Origin

Studio Nova was launched in 1984 as a chic, contemporary brand under the umbrella of Mikasa, a giant in the tabletop industry. Designed to appeal to younger, design-conscious consumers, Studio Nova specialized in casual but highly stylized glassware and dinnerware, often manufactured in Japan to ensure high-quality production.

Condition & Value

The glass plate appears to be in very good condition with no visible chips or cracks. The original cardboard box shows significant wear, creasing, and tearing along the edges, which slightly reduces its value to a pristine-box collector. Value is driven primarily by nostalgia and functional appeal.

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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.