Rare Vaseline glass the focal point of upcoming Millersburg Glass auction
With a combination of rarity and beauty, Millersburg Glass has become a top-of-the-line purchase for carnival glass collectors. More than 180 pieces will be up for auction at the Millersburg Glass Auction at Harvest Ridge.
Over the past several decades, the rarity and beauty of Millersburg Glass has pushed it to the forefront of just about every carnival glass collector’s wish list.
On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5-6, 180 pieces of Millersburg Glass will come home for auction during the annual Millersburg Glass Association’s auction during the Holmes County Antique Festival.
This year the show’s highlight will be the Millersburg Glass Vaseline pieces.
Auctioneer Jim Wroda, who has called the auctions at Millersburg for years, will be the keynote speaker at the Oct. 5 Millersburg Glass Association gathering at Harvest Ridge from 5-9 p.m.
Wroda will share his knowledge during “See How Millersburg Glows.” Wroda will talk at length about the Vaseline pieces and what makes them rare, and the public is invited to bring any Vaseline glass in for the night to have it appraised. It may even be part of the evening’s talk.
The event will include a light dinner with snacks and other goodies and Wroda taking center stage at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.
“It’s a fun time to get together and share our passion for glass,” club member Steve Maag said. “All of the glass for the auction the next morning will be on display, and while 180 pieces isn’t a huge auction, it is still more than big enough to bring in a lot of interested collectors. Jim will focus on a couple of rare Vaseline pieces of glass, and we invite people to bring in their Vaseline glass to be identified or appraised.”
While this is a club function, anyone may participate, and Maag said they would love to have anyone interested sign up to become a club member.
According to Maag, the rarity of the Vaseline glass comes from the fact that when it is put under a black light — a phenomenon early owners of Millersburg Glass a century ago didn’t have — it glows from an additive to the glass that few pieces have.
“It is very rare because it is made with a little bit of uranium, and I am sure that back in the early days when the glass was created that people didn’t realize exactly what they had,” Maag said.
The auction will begin in earnest Saturday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at Harvest Ridge, where the doors will open at 8 a.m. for glass viewing along with coffee and doughnuts. Maag said while this may be a smaller event — with every third year being a larger event — there are a lot of reasons to get excited about what will hit the auction block.
“We’ve got two rare Vaseline pieces in particular — a zig zag bowl and whirling leaves bowl — that are incredible,” Maag said. “There are also a pair of wildflower compotes that are superb. Plus there is something in the price range for anyone who collects. It should be a fascinating auction again this year.”
For a glimpse into the world of rare Millersburg Glass or to own a piece of this historic collectible carnival glass, visit Harvest Ridge Oct. 5-6.