Preliminary identification

Pressed Glass Powder Jar Lid, likely 'Grateful' or 'Sunflower' Pattern

Photo reference

3 uploaded photos

Overview

This is a vintage clear pressed glass lid, originally designed to sit atop a matching powder jar or vanity box. It features a striking radial starburst pattern with stylized leaf or petal cuts radiating from a central point, designed to catch and refract dressing-table light.

Story

During the 1920s through the 1950s, no lady's dressing table was complete without a vanity set. These glass jars held loose face powders and cosmetic puffs, serving as sparkling symbols of modern personal grooming rituals.

Maker / Origin

While the exact maker is unconfirmed, companies like L.E. Smith, Imperial Glass, and various Ohio Valley glassworks dominated the American market for elegant pressed kitchenware and vanity items during this era, making beauty accessible to everyday households.

Condition & Value

The lid shows some minor surface wear and typical manufacturing mold marks, but no major chips or cracks are visible in the photos. Excellent condition for a lid alone helps preserve its utility as a replacement piece.

Full Research

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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.