Collecting Carnival Glass for Fun and Profit
How to Identify and Find Good Buys on Carnival Glass
Nov 2, 2008
Carnival glass comes in many colors, shapes and sizes. Both old and new carnival glass have long been desirable collector's item. Good buys can be made if the buyer knows what to look for.
Origin of Carnival Glass
In 1907, Fenton Art Glass Company began manufacturing a distinctive type of iridescent, rainbow-colored glassware known for its shiny, metallic sheen and changing hues. This glassware was very popular over the next ten years. Many colors were made, including marigold, amethyst, cobalt, red and green. The distinctive iridescent, translucent colors were made by using highly-patterned moulds and a special spray of metallic salts which were applied to the glass when it was still very hot.
This inexpensive pressed glass was believed to have once been given away at carnivals as prizes, thus the term “carnival glass” was coined. However, this term was not commonly used until collectors came to use it in the 1950s. By the 1950s carnival glass was being sought by collectors.
Most of the older carnival glass was manufactured between 1907 and 1925, and these are highly collectible pieces.In 1970, Fenton revived production of carnival glass. Prices vary, with some dishes modestly priced and others worth thousands of dollars
Major Brands
Shortly after Fenton introduced the first carnival glass, other major glass manufacturers began to add their products to the market. The major manufacturers of carnival glass were Fenton, Northwood, Imperial, Dugan and Millserburg.
Identifying Carnival Glass
Identifying carnival glass is not always easy. Though many manufacturers included an identifying mark on their product, some did not, and others did not mark every piece. Sometimes older pieces can only be identified by matching patterns, colors, and other identifying factors to old catalogs. This can be challenging, since there are over 2,000 different patterns of carnival glass. Because many copies, both new and old, were made that closely match the original patterns, some pieces can be difficult to identify. There are, however, several clues that can give an idea of how old the glass is and who the manufacturer was. Some patterns, such as Northwood’s Grape and Cable, are easily identifiable through a collector’s book.
Certain manufacturers such as Imperial and Northwood used marks to identify their pieces. Northwood carnival glass made in the classic era can be is identified by an underlined “N” in a circle. Generally, this is a good guide to the authenticity of a Northwood piece, and makes it a desirable collectible.
Imperial carnival glass was made since 1908. From 1951, Imperial began using the mark of a capital G superimposed over a letter I. This mark was used until 1972, when Lenox purchased Imperial. After that, the letter L was added. In 1981, after the company was purchased by Arthur Loch, an A was added to the LIG. Though any marked piece is collectible, the older marking IG has more antique value than the later pieces. However, many Imperial pieces are unmarked, and glassware must then be identified by matching the patterns and other identifying factors.
Newer Carnival Glass
In the 1960s many manufacturers such as Imperial and Fenton introduced new lines that are difficult to distinguish from the original carnival glass. Since even the newer pieces are also collectible, they can be a good buy at a flea market or garage sale. When buying an expensive piece, it is best to refer to a good price guide. These can be found in the antiques section of almost any bookstore, and can help identify additional marking and patterns to ensure the buyer is getting what they paid for. When buying carnival glass, be sure to check for chips, breaks and hairline cracks, as any damage will greatly reduce the value of the piece.
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