9 Facts About Collecting Vintage Carnival Glass

FACT 1:peacock tails, Persian medallion, open rose and
Carnival glass is considered a pressed glass,fluffy peacock. Popular designs included, flowers,
meaning hot molten glass, which may or may notfruits, leaves, pansies, roses, water-lilies,
contain color of its own, and which is poured intoblackberries, grapes, cherries, oak and vine leaves.
metal molds and conforms to the shape of theCarnival glass patterns will also often appear in the
mold. It is pressed glass that comes in aboutform of opalescent, custard, crystal and
2,000 different patterns. After removal from thedepression glass. Opalescent, crystal and custard
mold, it is coated with metallic salts and thenglass production preceded and overlapped that of
re-fired giving it an oil-like rainbow iridescent sheen.carnival glass.
It is an American invention, first introduced inFACT 7:
1903.Collectors tend to distinguish between glass
FACT 2:produced in the 'golden era' of 1907 - 1925,
Carnival glass is usually listed in identification booksknown as 'Prime', and glass produced from the
by its pattern and then by manufacturer.mid 1920s to the late 1930s, known as
FACT 3:'Secondary' carnival glass. Prime carnival glass was
The highly collectible carnival glass is made in anproduced by leading US manufacturers such as
amazing variety of patterns, geometric andFenton, whose pieces are typically unmarked, and
naturalistic, formed in a mold and then handNorthwood, whose pieces often bear an
finished and decorated. It was an inexpensiveunderlined 'N'.
pressed glass to manufacture. It was pressed,FACT 8:
then shaped (crimps, ruffles, flared edges, etc.)Another well known producer was Northwood.
and is the artistic glassware which was massThey produced some of the finest antique
produced from 1907 through to 1925. This line iscarnival glass and they began production shortly
referred to as vintage.after Fenton. Northwood glass is usually marked
FACT 4:on the bottom with a capital "N" surrounded by a
Carnival glass pieces in black have the highestcircle. Northwood glass made in the classic era can
value, closely followed by the blue, due to thebe is identified by an underlined "N" in a circle.
fact that these colors are much harder to find.Generally, this is a good guide to the authenticity
Red is also highly priced, with green beingof a Northwood piece, and makes it a desirable
significantly lower in value than the black, blue, andcollectible. Northwood proved to be a very
red. Black amethyst is a rare color; there wereproductive factory, introducing designs such as
very few pieces made, some people think thegrape and cable, fine cut and rose, beaded cable,
black amethyst itself was an accident. Because ofwild rose, singing birds, peacock at the fountain,
its rarity it has some value but because of theleaf and beads, nippon and rosette. Of all its
motley looking gold, it actually looks more like rustdesigns, grape and cable was the most popular,
and it is offered at a greatly reduced price.and at one time could be obtained in over
FACT 5:seventy shapes of dishes, vases, plates and
Fenton carnival glass is considered to be the mostbowls. Northwood and other glass manufacturers
popular among all. The Fenton Art Glass Companyincluding Imperial, Westmoreland, and Dugan also
of Williamstown, West Virginia was the first toproduced Carnival Glass from the early 1900's.
produce a dime store alternative to the moreFACT 9:
expensive art glass of the time. It first introducedDue to resurgence in its popularity, Fenton
its carnival art glass to the public with an article inproduces carnival glass today. Production after
a trade magazine in October 1907.1969 has an oval mark with Fenton inside it,
FACT 6:differentiating this later production from original
Based on the individual unique design of the glass,period pieces. Other marks developed in
each pattern was given a name, such as leaf andsubsequent years, and some pieces are hand
beads, starfish, pineapple and bow, beaded cable,decorated and signed by the artist.