Carnival Glass Bowls: A Brief Guide
Carnival glass bowls form part of the large carnival glass collectible items. These are produced by pressing the glass and coating it with an iridescent coating which gives it shiny look. This process is known as doping, hence this glass is also sometimes referred to as dope glass. This process was first adopted in the early 1900s and it lasted only till the mid to late thirties, and today is extinct.
The first, and largest, widely recognized producer of carnival glass was by the company Fenton. Fenton first began as a company that decorated blank glass produced by other companies, and then started creating carnival glass in 1907. When they started production, Fenton glassware was marketed as "Iridill" or more simply, iridescent ware. It quickly became a hit and many other companies began making and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.
In the late 20es, request for their products started to fade. This was caused by the decrease in sales during Depression time, and partly to the saturation of the market by glass companies too. To eliminate stock, companies started selling their wares at strongly discounted prices to carnivals, that then is used as prizes for their games. Many companies got out of business during that period.
"Carnival glass" refers to glass bowls given as carnival prizes in the early part of the 20th century, as well as reproductions made by several companies in the 1950s, thanks to renewed popularity at that time. Today, both the antique Fenton style and the later styles are prized by collectors.
Presently, carnival glass can be found in auctions, antique shops, and online for various prices. Fenton antique glass fetches high prices, as well as other well-known carnival glass. Some of the more common colors are marigold, as well as dark hues like blue and green. The most prized and pricey kinds of carnival glass bowls are red or pastel colored. One rare ice-blue plate even sold for $16,327.55 on a popular auction website!
There are many resources available for a would- be collector. Many books and websites are available containing information on antiques, their shapes, colors and where they came from. A great way to learn more about antique collecting is through joining organizations of would-be enthusiast.
Carnival glass bowls are produced by pressing the glass and coating it with an iridescent coating which gives it shiny look. The largest producer of carnival glass was Fenton glassware. When demand began to decline in the late twenties, companies began selling their wares at deep discounts to carnivals, which gave away the glass as prizes. You can find carnival glass everywhere. Antique Fenton glass and other well-known producers command higher prices. Common colors include marigold, blue, and green. Red or pastel bowls are the most prized. A rare ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55! There are lots resources for collectors, including web sites, books, and collector organizations.
Published August 10th, 2007
Filed in Art, Home, Recreation