| Carnival glass is very distinctive glassware which | | | | probably more than 2000 different patterns. |
| dates back to the early 1900s. It was originally | | | | There were originally five major producers and |
| produced by Fenton in 1907 and became | | | | each would have their trademark carnival glass |
| extremely popular and is still produced today. It | | | | patterns. These big five were; Fenton, Imperial |
| has a wonderful iridescent finish and usually has a | | | | Glass Company, Millersburg Glass Company, |
| heavy molded pattern. The glass is pressed in a | | | | Northwood Glass Company and Dugan Glass |
| mold and then given its characteristic iridescence | | | | Company. Specialist collectors would no doubt be |
| by a process of spraying with liquid metallic salts. | | | | able to tell which manufacturer a piece was from |
| It is a mixture of this wonderful oily finish and the | | | | if it were produced by one of these five. There |
| distinctive carnival glass patterns that make the | | | | were, however, quite a number of smaller |
| pieces stand out. | | | | companies throughout Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania |
| Whilst Fenton was making the functional, yet | | | | and West Virginia and then more companies still |
| decorative, pieces of carnival glass, he produced | | | | who would produce the glass. This is when |
| around 150 patterns. Once other glass companies | | | | identification becomes tricky. |
| realized the popularity of the glassware and | | | | Many of the traditional carnival glass patterns |
| started to manufacture their own carnival glass | | | | would be available from nearly all the |
| they would have their own catalog of patterns. At | | | | manufacturers. For example the 'peacock at urn' |
| this point, identification of the origin of pieces was | | | | pattern, this was produced by Millersburg, |
| quite straightforward as each producer had their | | | | Northwood and Fenton and all are very similar to |
| own carnival glass patterns. | | | | the untrained eye. However, a specialist would |
| However, as the popularity rose still further there | | | | easily be able to tell which piece belongs to which |
| were many companies who would keep an eye | | | | company by way of the number of tiaras on the |
| on what their competitors were producing and if | | | | peacock, whether there was a bee in the picture, |
| they thought that a pattern was selling particularly | | | | the style of the urn etc. |
| well they may copy some aspect of it and | | | | Whether you get completely caught up on the |
| incorporate it into their own pieces. As time has | | | | identification of the companies or not, looking at |
| gone by, identification has become a much more | | | | carnival glass patterns can become absolutely |
| difficult process. As the glassware was not | | | | addictive. The depth of color and iridescence is |
| expensive it was rare for a manufacturer to have | | | | stunning and the designs are extravagant and |
| a signature on the base of the pieces, although | | | | mesmerizing. They are definitely worth looking out |
| some of the larger companies did use some form | | | | for at flea markets and sales. You could find a |
| of marking. In many cases, however, there is only | | | | lovely piece of glassware and never know it; the |
| the carnival glass patterns and paint coloring that | | | | piece may even be worth quite a large sum of |
| can be used to source the items. There are now | | | | money. |