Divided Dish, Imperial Glass, Intaglio Fruit, Frosted Glass, USA, Vintage 1970s

Pears, berries, and leaves pressed below the surface of frosted glass — intaglio carving that transforms a practical dish into something genuinely luminous.

• Maker: Imperial Glass Company, Bellaire, Ohio, USA — Intaglio Fruit, pattern 900
• Pattern: Intaglio Fruit 900 — frosted below-surface pears, berries, and leaves; ribbed and scalloped rim; 3 equal sections
• Era: 1970s (estimated)
• Material: Frosted glass
• Dimensions: 7.25" diameter, 1.5" tall
• Condition: Very good — one tiny chip on inside rim (shown in photos); no cracks or cloudiness. All sales are final.

Intaglio is one of the oldest techniques in glassmaking, with roots going back to Roman antiquity: the design is pressed or cut below the surface rather than raised above it, so that frosted glass catches and diffuses light through the image in a way embossed glass never quite does. Imperial Glass Co. of Bellaire, Ohio produced Intaglio Fruit (pattern 900) with exactly this effect — three equal sections, each carrying a frosted composition of pears, berries, and leaves, framed by a ribbed and scalloped rim.

Lovely for hors d'oeuvres, olives, petit fours, or nuts at a table that appreciates the details. Just as beautiful corralling earrings on a nightstand or as a standalone display. A meaningful gift for the Imperial Glass collector or anyone who appreciates American glassmaking history.

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