Collecting Antique Carnival Glass by Margaret Tye
Carnival glass was first produced in the early 20thC by a number of enterprising, American glass manufacturers who recognised a demand for cheaper glass to compete with Tiffany. Although originally sold as pressed, iridized glass it later became known as carnival glass when it fell out of fashion and was given away as fairground prizes. However collectors soon recognised the beauty of the earlier glass with its intricate patterns and colors. Now it is widely collected, particularly in the US where it is thought of as an American collectible, although several other countries have produced small quantities.
The glass of several manufacturers is eagerly sought after, probably the best known being Fenton. Initially two brothers Frank and John, started the Fenton glassworks in 1905 and by 1908 were beginning to produce iridized glass. Unfortunately the brothers quarrelled and John left to form his own Millersburg Glass company. Millersburg produced some of the finest carnival glass, but John was not a good business man and the company only survived 1913. Today Millersburg glass is highly sought after.
Imperial Glass began in 1901 and in 1909 started producing carnival glass. Many collectors consider it second only to Millersburg.
Harry Northwood produced his first iridized glass in 1908 and continued until his death in 1919. Lettering on carnival glass is rare and one of the most collectible Northwood patterns is their "Good Luck" range. The Northwood and Dugan families were closely related and in the early years the two names worked together. The Dugan plant burned down in 1931 and was never rebuilt.
The value of carnival glass depends on color and rarity as well as condition. Marigold and amethyst are the two most common colors. However many people make the mistake of thinking pieces they have seen in those colors are not valuable. If a pattern had only a few pieces produced in a particular color, the value is likely to be higher because of its scarcity. Red carnival glass is rare as it was expensive to produce. There is is lot of modern red glass, so do not be fooled into thinking you have found a valuable piece.
In recent years some of the earlier carnival glass patterns have been reproduced, but most have a mark on the back to indicate they are a later issue. A few patterns have been faked and if you are unsure it is worth checking whether forgeries are known.
About the Author
To learn more about collecting carnival glass and where to buy it, please visit Collecting Carnival Glass.
Fenton Glass Factory Tour