Fenton Glass Company started in 1905, when brothers Frank and John Fenton set up shop in an old glass factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Their initial business model was to paint glass blanks supplied by other manufacturers, but when the brothers ran into supply snags, they decided to make their own, setting up a glassblowing facility in Williamstown, West Virginia.
Of the myriad manufacturers of carnival glass, a type of colorful molded glassware that was popular in the first half of the 20th century, Fenton Glass Company is arguably the most influential and important. Fenton basically introduced the category in 1907, when company co-founder Frank Fenton and factory manager Jacob Rosenthal created an iridescent, "poor-man’s Tiffany" called Iridill.
To make the Iridill vases and bowls—some footed, some flat-bottomed—molten glass was pressed into a mold. In some cases the resulting relief sits on the exterior of the vessel, b...
When looking at Fenton's antique or vintage carnival glass, it helps to be able to identify the various characteristics and traits. For example, patterns could be stamped onto the outside of a piece (also called the back), the inside (front), or both. The bases of pieces were also varied—some had flat collars while others sported ball or spatula feet.
The edges of carnival glass are another differentiator. Some are smooth with gentle undulations, others are divided into alternating sections of unbroken curves and sharp points to create what is known as a bracket edge. Other pieces feature edges that appear crimped, ruffled, pulled, or resemble the teeth of a saw.
While carnival glass was made for everyday use, many pieces seemed suited to special occasions or the serving of treats. Thus, Fenton made a great number of ruffled candy dishes, high-sided nut bowls, and low nappies.
In the 1920s, Fenton introduced a red carnival color that would prove to be a hit with customers of the day and contemporary Fenton collectors alike. But as the 1930s arrived and the Depression deepened, Fenton dropped its carnival lines in favor of household items such as plates and mixing bowls. Other designs produced during the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s include the ruffled-edge Crest pieces and the twisting Spiral Optics.
It was tough going, and the company almost didn’t make it. What rescued Fenton was a Victorian style of glass called Hobnail, whose uniformly bumpy surface resembled the bottoms of hobnail boots. It had been out of fashion for decades, but Fenton found a new audience for this "retro" glassware. A pattern called Diamond Lace combined the bumpy surface of the Hobnails with the optical qualities of the Spiral Optics. And then Fenton produced a milk glass Hobnail. Sales eclipsed even those tallied during the heyday of Iridill, and the company’s future was once again secure.
By the 1950s, many Fenton bowls were adorned with handles to turn them into baskets. Up until that decade, no Fenton piece had carried its maker’s mark, but now Fenton decided that the work of the handler (the gaffer who takes a band of molten glass and with a few deft moves fashions it into a handle) should be recognized. This helps collectors of vintage Fenton to identify the date and pedigree of pieces from 1953 to the present.
Interviews & Articles
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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Fairy Lamp Club

This incredible site is a stunning showcase for Victorian and contemporary fairy lamps, a style of lamp with a glas… [read review or visit site]
Loetz.com

This fabulous site is a guide to Bohemian art glass makers from 1885 to 1920. Loetz was the premier Bohemian glass … [read review or visit site]
Pattern Glass School

If you need schooling on Victorian-era pressed glass tableware aka EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) aka Pattern … [read review or visit site]
Cloud Glass Reference Site

Chris and Val Stewart’s impressive attempt to create a complete catalogue of all known cloud glass, a decorative … [read review or visit site]
Antiquesaltshakers.com

This website, home of the Antique and Art Glass Salt Shaker Collector's Society, offers a beautiful photo gallery s… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Glassware
- Antiquesaltshakers.com
- Early American Pattern Glass Society
- The Glass Art Society
- National Cambridge Collectors, Inc.
- Stained Glass Association of America
- The Glass Association
Discussion Forums: Glassware
- Yahoo 2Glassies2 Discussion Group
- Yahoo Glass Lovers Glass Database Forum
- Yahoo Fenton Friendly Folks Discussion Group
- Yahoo Fenton Art Glass Discussion Group
Other Great Reference Sites: Glassware
Top eBay Auctions
Recent News: Fenton Glass
Source: Google News
Fenton Art Glass turns to Kickstarter to raise money to create catalog of moulds
The Republic, May 15thWILLIAMSTOWN, West Virginia — Fenton Art Glass is using Kickstarter to raise money to create an online catalog of the company's glassmaking moulds. The Kickstarter campaign seeks to raise $50,000 by 7 p.m. on May 20. The Fenton Historical Glass...Read more
More Collections Pour into Contest: From Ash Trays to Bottles
EcommerceBytes (blog), May 9thBeth collects Fenton Glass Bears: "All the same sitting bear, but in different colors and types of glass," she says. Now that's a specialized collection! She says her collection is currently at 96 total, "but this is a picture of just a portion of the...Read more
Roseville shop speaks volumes
Sacramento Bee, April 27thAs customers come looking for a more economical way to cool their homes, they pick up a piece of Fenton glass or a slot machine or a Federal Coral Pink set of American Limoges china. Greg Campbell of Mike & Greg's Antiques at Sacramento's 57th Street...Read more
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