What we now call "goofus glass" was the original carnival glass. Before glass makers had developed a method for making the durable and beautiful carnival glass, they simply made pressed glass and then decorated it with cold, unfired paint. It was beautiful, but the paint had a tendency to flake off.
That's what makes this piece so unusual. This tri-fold candy dish was made by Northwood Glass of Indiana, Pennsylvania between 1905 and 1908. It is the Blooms & Blossoms pattern, also called Lightning Flower or Mikado. The paint is almost entirely (over 95%) intact! One might find a piece of goofus glass or two at an antique store from time to time hotsell, but these pieces are almost always serving bowls, and the paint is usually in poor condition. A tri-fold candy dish with paint like this is a rarity. The last two photos in this listing were taken at an oblique angle in order to best show where the paint is missing. This piece measures 7 1/4” at its widest point, and stands 2” tall.
Please don't take my word for it. Research it yourself before buying. I found one other example of this on eBay, and none at all on Etsy or Ruby Lane. This might not be a once in a lifetime find, but it is certainly a once in a very great while one!
Product code: Northwood hotsell Blooms & Blossoms Goofus Glass Tri-Corner Candy Dish AKA Lightning Flower or Mikado