Imperial Glass made their Laced Edge in the early 1930s in many colors, with and without the opalescent edge shown in the bowl above. You can find several shades of green and blue, plus ruby, amber, crystal, pink, amethyst, yellow. All have the characteristic cane, diamond or waffle design and delicate open edges. Collectors nicknamed the opalescent blue and green pieces Katy. I noticed Replacements indicated some colors were nicknamed “Sugar Cane” or “Genie”.
Posts about Laced Edge
Lesser Known Depression Glass from Imperial – Katy, Laced Edge #749
A Closer Look At Nappies – Glass Ones That Is
Enjoy the Sparkle! Ruby Red Laced Edge Nappy
Laced Edge Table Service Pieces Available
You might expect a glass pattern with a delicate-looking edge to be limited to decorative accessory pieces, in fact Laced Edge includes basic dinnerware pieces too. Of course tumblers and cups have smooth, solid rims.
Look for the typical three plates – 6 1/2 inch bread and butter, 8 inch salad/lunch and 10 inch dinner size. Plates have a more substantial edge with thicker glass between each hole than the less-robust nappy above.
There are 4 small, 4-6 inch place setting bowls and a soup bowl. I wouldn’t advise trying to drink the last of the milk right from your cereal bowl! The edge on the soup bowl is thicker than on the more delicate nappy at the top of the page.
Imperial made a cup and saucer and a 9 ounce tumbler. There is no sherbet nor any goblet. Since Imperial couldn’t sell drinking pieces with holes in the rim they molded the loops.
Laced Edge has usual serving pieces, multiple serving bowls, an oval platter and a large round plate plus a 2-part mayo set.
Decorative and Accessory Pieces
Laced Edge bowls are lovely little gems. Some are most suitable for serving food but many others shine as decorative items. The shallow Katy blue nappy at the top of the page is a good example as are a similar nappy in ruby red and the small green bowl below.
Notice that both these shapes have lacier edges than the serving bowls with more delicate glass ribbons. This next bowl in clear green is midway between the more open pieces and the solid-appearing rims on the plates and serving bowls. This shows the lovely green shade Imperial used.
Imperial made a flower bowl, likely meant to hold a metal frog in its base for arrangements and a footed vase shown below in opalescent green.
You may have noticed some pieces have the lace edge nearly vertical while others are flared or flat. There is also some variation in the base and edges, as some pieces have a diamond, waffle or crossed star motif and others have a cane.
The Katy Laced Edge candle holder is similar to others from the era, a center mound with two lights.
Imperial catalog pages, reproduced in Imperial Glass Encyclopedia Volume 2 edited by James Measell show several pieces without the textured sides labeled “Laced Edge”, mostly in crystal. (Later this was called “Crocheted Crystal” sold by Sears.)
The catalog photo includes smooth sided single candle holders that are shaped like small bowls with crimped sides and candle cups in the center.
Replacements shows a tall candy jar, called a candy box, in several colors under the Laced Edge name with smooth sides. I suspect this was marketed as a gift item
Availability, Damage Concerns
In 20 years shopping for glass we found three pieces, the blue, green and ruby bowls shown here. It isn’t a common pattern where we lived in Michigan. You most likely will need to shop glass shows or look online, especially for some of the less common pieces. Of course you’ll want to have fun prowling the antique malls, especially ones with several glass vendors.
I checked eBay just now and saw many pieces in the Katy blue opalescent, including plates, bowls, tumblers, cups and saucers, mayo sets. Most likely you can accumulate as many pieces as you want on that site. Replacements has pieces in stock too (September 2023).
Be aware that Laced Edge Katy is not inexpensive. Most pieces in mint condition will be costly, especially some less common ones, dinner plates, some serving pieces, tumblers. I saw more blue opalescent, which is the traditional color considered “Katy” than others. Imperial’s blue is pretty and it’s soft and subtle enough to complement most homes. It is popular and prices reflect that.
Also be careful and realize that not all pieces with laced edge rims are Imperial Laced Edge regardless of color. Hocking’s Old Colony is quite different – you aren’t likely to mix them up – but it too has a rim with open holes. There are many milk glass items with lacy rims (often with different lace shapes), some also by Imperial, that aren’t Laced Edge. This is especially important if you shop online. Check photos.
I’m not aware of reproductions. As noted Imperial released a Laced Edge pattern with smooth sides in the 1940s and early 50s and marketed crystal pieces through Sears called “Crocheted Crystal”.
Of course the lace rims can crack or even break off. The blue nappy at the top had a crack that wasn’t particularly noticeable as it was on the underside of the lace. Check all around the glass ribbons, plus at the base of the lace edge and the base of the piece.
Overall Laced Edge is a lovely pattern, especially in your favorite colors. The medium, soft blue and green are particularly pretty.