| Carnival glass bowls form part of the large | | | | which the carnivals then used as prizes for their |
| carnival glass collectible items. These are produced | | | | games. Several companies went out of business |
| by pressing the glass and coating it with an | | | | during this period. |
| iridescent coating which gives it shiny look. This | | | | Known as "carnival glass" by glass collectors, the |
| process is known as doping, hence this glass is | | | | popularity of carnival glass bowls surged in the |
| also sometimes referred to as dope glass. This | | | | 1950s. Originally used as carnival prizes, today |
| process was first adopted in the early 1900s and | | | | reproductions are made by several companies. |
| it lasted only till the mid to late thirties, and today | | | | Fenton glass in particular is a prized collectible and |
| is extinct. | | | | the most frequently manufactured. |
| The company Fenton was the first and largest, | | | | At present, auctions, antique shops, and online |
| widely recognized carnival glass producer. Fenton | | | | stores are the best places where one could get |
| initially began life as a company which decorated | | | | carnival glass at various prices. Fenton antique |
| blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 | | | | glass as well as other well-known carnival glass |
| it started creating carnival glass. When production | | | | fetches high prices. Popular colors of these glasses |
| started, Fenton glassware was marketed as "Iridill" | | | | are marigold, as well as dark hues like blue and |
| or "iridescent ware". This was an instant hit and | | | | green. However, carnival glass bowls in red or |
| several other companies began producing and | | | | pastel color are the costliest item of this |
| marketing their own carnival glass bowls. | | | | category. On a popular auction website, one rare |
| In the late twenties, demand for their products | | | | ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55! |
| began to wane. This was due to the decrease in | | | | For the newbie collectors, there are a lot of |
| sales during the Depression, and also in part to | | | | resources with plenty of information. A lot of web |
| the saturation of the market by glass companies. | | | | sites and books are out there for information on |
| To get rid of stock, companies began selling their | | | | the many sizes and shapes these antiques are |
| wares at deeply discounted prices to carnivals, | | | | available. |