About Antique and Vintage Fenton Glassware

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 created the category in 1907, when company co-founder Frank Fenton and factory manager Jacob Rosenthal created an iridescent, "poor-man’s Tiffany" called Iridill.

The line was an immediate hit thanks to the eye-catching surface treatments, as well as the patterns and designs that jumped from the pieces to create rich reliefs. Most of Fenton’s early patterns came from nature. These included Waterlily and Cattails, Butterfly and Berries, Peacock Tail, Wreath of Roses, and Thistle...

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 carnival color that would prove to be a hit with customers of the day and contemporary Fenton collectors alike—red. 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.

Today Fenton's antique and vintage glassware is quite popular with collectors. Fenton has even found contemporary audiences for its 1970s Iridill reissues, as well as its first lines of 1970s Burmese glassware, whose creamy pink opaque surfaces are often hand-painted.

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Vintage Carnival Fenton Apple Tree Pitcher & 6 Tumblers$227.50 Ends in 14 hours 15 bids 10 watchers
Fenton Blue Opalescent Hobnail Butter Dish Rare!$202.50 Ends Tuesday 20 bids 21 watchers
Fenton Blue Heart And Vine Plate$177.50 Ends in 8 mins 9 bids 17 watchers
Fenton Amethyst Heart And Vine Plate$177.50 Ends in 14 mins 8 bids 9 watchers
Fenton 4 Smith~moon & Star~ruby Electric Table Lamp 20"$160.50 Ends in 1 hour 8 bids 33 watchers
Wow Antique Concord Grape Fenton Carnival Glass Bowl $153.50 Ends Saturday 12 bids 13 watchers
Rare Fenton Carnival Glass Kittens Toothpick Blue Nr$152.50 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 25 watchers
Fenton Electric Blue Holly Plate $103.49 Ends in 3 hours 4 bids 35 watchers
Fenton Coin Dot Cranberry Perfume / Powder Set(3)$100.00 Ends in 2 hours 1 bid 23 watchers
Fenton Orange Tree 8 Pc. Punch Set~ Marigold~superb!$94.79 Ends Thursday 6 bids 18 watchers
Antique Fenton Carnival Glass 3 Kittens Cup Saucer$83.28 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 8 watchers
Fenton Kittens Cup & Saucer Set ~ Marigold~ Very Nice!$81.00 Ends Thursday 11 bids 17 watchers
Carnival Glass Fenton Vintage Small Epergne Marigold$79.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Fenton Apple Tree Water Set 7p$75.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Fenton Peacock At The Urn Ruffled Bowl~white~superb!$68.00 Ends Thursday 6 bids 14 watchers
Rare Fenton Carnival Glass Mirrored Lotus Rosebowl (m)$62.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids 9 watchers
Rare Large Fenton Carnival Glass Art Glass Owl Figurine$59.99 Ends in 1 hour 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Carnival Glass Fenton Orange Tree Tumbler Blue$55.55 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 24 watchers
Dragon And Lotus*fenton Amethyst Bowl~1915s$54.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Large 10 " Fenton Green Carnival Glass Bowl/ Water Lily$49.95 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Fenton Marigold Carnival Glass Horse Head Medallion $48.00 Ends in 15 hours 5 bids 7 watchers
Fenton Water Lily Marigold Carnival Butter Dish Nice!$46.00 Ends Saturday 4 bids 4 watchers
Fenton Horse Medallion Ftd Bowl~marigold~super Color!$43.00 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 10 watchers
Fenton Glass Marigold Large Ruffle Bowl Grapes $42.99 Ends in 3 hours 5 bids 1 watcher
Stunning Lavender Fenton Persian Medallion 3n1 Bowl 8"$42.98 Ends Monday 6 bids 6 watchers
Fenton Cranberry Opalescent Spiral Optic Hobnail Cruet$41.00 Ends Monday 11 bids 30 watchers
Fenton Green Carnival Glass Epergne Horn Vintage$39.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 4 watchers
Fenton~stag & Holly~golden Carnival Glass Footed Bowl$36.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 8 watchers
Fenton Royal Blue 10" Cherry Chain Carnival Master Bowl$35.00 Ends in 3 hours 8 bids 18 watchers
Gorgeous X-tall Red Carnival Glass Urn Vase Fenton Look$34.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Beautiful Fenton Carnival Vase Red $31.00 Ends in 20 hours 9 bids 25 watchers
Vintage Fenton Green Georgian Pattern Glass Water Set$29.99 Ends in 2 hours 1 bid 12 watchers
1907 Fenton Carnival Glass Cannonball Pitcher$29.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 3 watchers
Fenton "chrysanthemum" Carnival Glass Collar-base Bowl$28.52 Ends in 1 hour 5 bids 11 watchers
Lt Purple Carnival Glass Hummingbird Figure Fenton Wtag$28.00 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Fenton Ice Green Stretch "#400" Footed Vase - Great!$28.00 Ends in 3 hours 6 bids 14 watchers
Levay Fenton Glass Grape Good Luck Topaz Carnival Vase$26.50 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 4 watchers
Fenton Carnival Glass Dragon & Lotus Bowl Lavender$26.25 Ends Friday 3 bids 9 watchers
Antique Little Fishe's Blue Fenton Carnival Glass N/r$26.00 Ends Saturday 4 bids 14 watchers
Fenton Art Glass Green Opalescent Ribbed Funeral Vase$26.00 Ends in 4 hours 6 bids 14 watchers
Super Fenton Peacock At The Urn Ice Cream Bowl, N/r$26.00 Ends in 4 hours 2 bids 13 watchers
Fenton Marigold Carnival Glass Persian Medallion Bowl$26.00 Ends Thursday 2 bids 4 watchers
Fenton Thumbprint Coin Polka Dot Green Pitcher$26.00 Ends in 5 hours 2 bids 8 watchers
Fenton Solid & Satin Emerald Green Glass Cat Figurine$25.49 Ends in 20 hours 3 bids 1 watcher
Fenton Electric Blue Carnival Art Glass Pansy Plate!$25.16 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 13 watchers
Pair Of Antique Fenton Vases$25.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Fenton Carnival Glass Amethyst Butterfly Bon Bon Box$24.99 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Vaseline Opalescent Fenton Carnival Glass Basket$24.95 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Fenton White Milk Glass Waterlily Pitcher, 7 Inches$24.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Fenton Persian Medallion Bearded Carnival Glass Bon Bon$23.50 Ends in 5 hours 2 bids 10 watchers
Two Early Fenton Carnival Glass Rose Bowls Ruffled Edge$23.06 Ends in 4 hours 5 bids 9 watchers
Fenton Ruby Red Open Basketweave Pattern 8" Plate$23.05 Ends in 2 hours 3 bids 2 watchers
Fenton Ribbon Tie 3/1 Edge Bowl~amethyst~superb Color!$22.60 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 13 watchers
Fenton Miniature Punch Bowl$22.50 Ends Friday 7 bids 3 watchers
Fenton Hobnail Opalescent Vase Vaseline?$22.49 Ends in 2 hours 2 bids 19 watchers
Fenton "stag & Holly" Large Footed Bowl Marigold, Ex$21.60 Ends in 3 hours 2 bids 9 watchers
Fenton***1911***cobalt*** Carnival Glass***holly***vase$21.51 Ends in 5 hours 5 bids 6 watchers

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