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, 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 selling 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 Blooms & Blossoms Goofus Glass Tri-Corner Candy Dish selling AKA Lightning Flower or Mikado