Carnival Glass Bowls Costliest Items In It's Category
Carnival glass bowls are part of a larger collection of collectable items called carnival glass. Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass to which an iridescent coating has been applied, giving it an oil-like sheen. The process is sometimes known as doping, leading some glass manufacturers to call it "dope glass". It originated in the early 1900s, and production waned in the mid to late thirties.
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.
During the Depression in the late 1920s, demand on products began to decrease which impacted to sales reduction and partly dissemination of the market of glass companies. Because of this, some companies started selling merchandise to extremely low prices, which led to closure of business, just to get rid of stocks to carnivals which they use as prizes on games.
"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.
If you're looking for carnival glass, your best bet presently would be auctions, antique shops or online for various prices. Fenton antique glass in particular fetches high prices, along with other popular carnival glass. Marigold and dark hues - such as blue and green - are some of the most common colors. Red pastel colored carnival glass bowls are the most prized and expensive variety. One rare ice-blue colored plate in particular sold for an amazing $16,327.55 on a popular auction website!
For the would-be collector, there are many resources full of information available. Many websites and books are available for information on the many shapes and sizes these antiques come in. There are even organizations for would-be enthusiasts, which is a great way to learn more.
Carnival glass bowls are a highly collectible type of glass. They were produced by covering glass with an iridescent, shiny coating. The largest producer of carnival glass was Fenton. Fenton glassware quickly became popular, and other companies started producing carnival glass as well. Due to market saturation and the Great Depression, demand for carnival glass declined sharply in the late 1920s. Today, antique Fenton glass in particular is sought after by collectors, with red and pastel colored pieces considered the most valuable. Many resources are available for those new to collecting, such as websites and books with information on the various types of carnival glass.
Published August 10th, 2007