Cambridge Heliotrope Candy Dish with Cover (1920's)

We discovered this stunning Cambridge Heliotrope Candy Dish (Bon Bon) with a beautiful opalescent white lid forty years ago and have only used it for display since. The Heliotrope color 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 but it was often called "mauve" in their various languages. "Helio," the original brand name is a type of glassware produced by Cambridge Glass beginning in 1923.

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 "mauve" than "lavender" because this piece seems to have a bit more pink overtones. Heliotrope also falls into the category of opaque glass, however the color changes depending on the light source. The variation of purple does vary between pieces but the color of this special item (two pieces with bowl and lid) is consistent within the piece itself.

This Candy Dish is an example of how light affects our perception of its color. Is it Lavender? Pink? Purple? Mauve? There is a delicate opalescent finial on the Cover of the Dish, making it stylish yet simplistic in its design.

The dish itself, with lid, weighs about a pound and the glass is thick. There is minor and unnoticeable wear on the underneath side of the piece, and the overall impression is of mint condition and beauty. It is about 5 inches tall and 6 inches across.

Add this piece to your collection — or use it for bon-bons of whatever sort. It will not last long in this sought-after Heliotrope collectors' market.