Cambridge Heliotrope Large Bowl (1920's)

This stunning Cambridge Heliotrope Large Bowl (Fruit Bowl?) is a rare find. The Heliotrope color itself has a fascinating history. It is very hard to find these days, given its limited production by Cambridge. Several European glass manufacturers, like Loetz, experimented with Heliotrope in the early 1900's. It was often called "Mauve" in their various languages. "Helio," the original brand name for Cambridge, is a type of glassware produced by Cambridge Glass beginning in 1923.

The style of this bowl is simple, and it could be described as either Art Nouveau or Art Deco. It was most likely created in the late 1920's or 1930's, before the color "Mauve" lost favor. This was the sort of tableware that F. Scott Fitzgerald would describe in the "Great Gatsby."

The color of Helio has been described as part of the purple family and has been compared to the colors lavender or mauve. We believe it is more "lavender" than "mauve" because this piece seems to have a bit more purplish overtones. Heliotrope also falls into the category of opaque glass, however the Heliotrope color changes depending on the light source on the object.

This Large Bowl is an example of how light affects our perception of its color. Is it Lavender? Pink? Purple? Mauve? It may depend upon the type of lighting that is illuminating it — incandescent, LED, fluorescent... it's up to you how this is done.

The Large Heliotrope Bowl weighs about 2 pounds and the glass is very thick. There is minor and unnoticeable wear on the underneath side of the piece. Our overall impression is that it is in near-mint condition and beauty. It is about 13 inches across and 3 inches high.

They just don't make Heliotrope bowls of this quality anymore. Add this piece to your collection — rarely does this type of piece become available. It will not last long in this very sought-after Heliotrope collectors' market. Check out our other Heliotrope pieces, curated over a period of 50 years. It's time to find all of them a new home.