The Gonder Collector.com
Introduction: Gonder Imperial is one of the initial two lines of wares produced
by Gonder. As is evidenced from The Zanesville Recorder, the #500
Console Bowl was the very first piece produced in early 1942. As
with the Standard Line, many of these pieces also had a life as RumRill
pieces. However, Gonder expanded this line with
many of his own pieces. This line is where be begin
to see Gonder's fascination with duplicating Chinese museum pieces --
including bottles, jars and vases.
Imperial line pieces with mold numbers #518 and above were not used by RumRill
and are unique to Gonder. The exception to this is the popular Modern Cat #521 which previously produced at RumRill and marked S-3.
Pieces from the Imperial Line include figures, console bowls and/or console sets (bowls and candle holders), jars, planters and vases. Imperial line pieces vary widely in size from the small 4" Kneeling Coolie #547 to the enormous 17.5" Chinese Bottle Vase #531.
The Chinese shape pieces in the Imperial Line consist of vases, bottles and jars. The price list refers to the jars as vases with lids. The three vases with lids (#529, #530 and #533) are often found missing the lid. The value of the piece is greatly reduced when missing the lid.
Six of the Chinese shape pieces were offered with an optional base (#527, #530, #531, #533, #534 and #535). The bases were specific to the piece and offered in Nubian Black and Ivory White glazes. The bases are rare and very desirable to collectors. Bases can easily add $50 to the value of the item. Ivory bases are extremely rare and I have yet to find one to add to my collection.
Mold Numbers: Pieces in the Imperial Line were assigned a mold
number between 500 and 565. As with other lines, not all numbers
were used - for example, #502 and #515 are missing from the price list and no known
examples have been found using those numbers. I also note the price list shows the Imperial Line ending at #551. However, additional pieces appear to have been added through and including #565. Since these pieces are marked Gonder (and not Gonder Original) and are found finished in predominately Imperial Line glazes, I submit they were intended to be in the Imperial Line.
In addition to these glazes, Chinese shape pieces from the Imperial Line were also offered in Ming Yellow and Celadon Green. Rarely, a piece may be found in Ming Blue (Cobalt). It is not known when this glaze was introduced and it is extremely rare. It is not listed on the early salesman price list so we assume the glaze was introduced at a later date.
For specifics on glazes please see the glazes section
of the web site.
Notes: The Gonder price list indicates that items were
ordered using the style number (mold) and the glaze desired. Prices
quoted were per dozen. Prices ranged from a low of $6.60 per dozen
to a high of $150.00 per dozen. Given normal retail mark up allowances,
some of these pieces would have retailed for $25 to $40 - quite a lot of money
for a vase in the 1940's!