Smooth Rays - Imperial
Carnival glass collectors typically think of Imperial's Smooth Rays pattern as only coming in flat nine inch eight sided plates or eight inch eight ruffled bowls. But the pattern name can be applied to a variety of shapes that appear in Imperial catalogs of the classic era period starting right at 1909 and through out the 1920s. Carl Burns, in his book on Imperial Carnival, did write about the multiple shapes and mold numbers of Smooth Rays.

The pattern consists of equal and untextured rays starting from the center of the interior and emanating outward to the piece's edge.

These shapes are represented in Imperial's old catalog with several mold numbers. Shapes include the eight sided bowls and plates from the same mold (#3897/1), sherbets(#399), custard cups(#755), footed jelly (#431), stems of various sizes(#442), a breakfast creamer and sugar set (#609), sundae sets made up of a large collar based round flared bowl (#345) with six sundaes with underplates(#499), and salad sets made up of a 10 inch flat based bowl (#808) sitting on a 12 inch plate (#808) accompanied by six 8 inch plates(#805). Water Pitchers and tumblers are also said to be part of the Smooth Rays pattern but have not been located in an old Imperial catalog yet.

Found in plates in clambroth, marigold and smoke and bowls in marigold and purple. These pieces of Imperial's Smooth Rays pattern have a clear unpatterned circle in the center of the pieces, possibly to allow the pattern in the marie to be seen from the front.

Above is a smoke plate. The purple ruffled bowl is 8 inches across.

The exteriors are plain except for a geometric or star pattern in the marie. The plates show the eight sided piece more so than does the ruffled bowls

The marigold and clambroth plates to the left show the two different patterns in the base.

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The Imperial catalog page to the left shows a M399/1 stemmed sherbet in the upper right hand corner and a M755/1 custard cup to the left in the center row. The Imperial catalog page to the right shows seven sizes of stemware with a Smooth Rays pattern. They are all listed as M442/1. From left to right they are: 1 oz. cordial, 2 oz. wine, 3 oz. wine, 4 oz. claret, 6 oz. champagne, 9 oz. goblet and 10 oz. goblet.
The Imperial catalog page above to the left shows a seven piece sundae set consisting of one 3457B 9 inch bowl and six 499/1B sundaes.

The catalog page to the left shows four bowls, all from the same mold, just shaped differently. The ruffled bowl is shown above. The mold is 3897/1. Notice the eight scallops around the top rim. When flattened, this mold would have also made the eight sided plates above.


The Imperial catalog page above shows an eight piece salad set consisting of one 10 inch bowl sitting on a 12 inch underplate and six 8 inch plates. The underplate and the bowl are mold 808 and the salad plates are mold 805D.

The tall stemmed compote is thought to be an Imperial Smooth Rays piece but it has not been found in an old Imperial catalog. It was sold in a Wroda auction and may be the only one known to date.

The photo to the left shows a 442 stemmed wine. It is about 4 inches tall and one of the seven stems that Imperial advertised in its catalog.

To the right is a water pitcher in the Smooth Rays pattern that may be Imperial. It has not yet been found in an old Imperial catalog.

Above are four Smooth Rays pieces found in Imperial's catalog 103B. The catalog was titled "Iridescent glass novelties." Shown are 755 custard cup, 431 six inch footed jelly, 399 sherbet and 499 sundae.
Above are two photos of items that appear in the Bargain Book, a collection of catalogs that Imperial published together. There are the 609 sugar and creamer that would make up a breakfast set and a 499 sherbet and plate. Note above that the 499 was advertised as a sundae but here it is a sherbet.

Undoubtedly, more examples of Imperial's Smooth Rays are to be found. Even though it is a simple pattern, it must have been a sales success as Imperial used it on so many shapes and for an extended period of time. Also the other carnival glass makers also thought is a good seller as Dugan, Fenton, Northwood and Westmoreland all have a Smooth Rays pattern.