Carnival glass bowls form a part of a larger set of collectibles called carnival glass. Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass to which an iridescent coating is applied or sprayed on, giving it an oil-like sheen. The process is known as doping, and hence the term “dope glass” was given to this particular form of glass. Being initially produced in the early 1900s the sales started to fall in the late thirties.
The Fenton company is largely recognized as the first and largest producer of carnival glass. Fenton began life as a company that decorated blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 they began creating their own carnival glass, which was initially marketed as “Iridill,” or, more simply, iridescent ware when Feton glassware began production. It was an overnight hit and many other companies began turning out and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.
The demand for their products began to decline in the late twenties. The reason for the decline was the decreasing sales during the depresion and partly also due to the saturation of the market by glass companies. To reduce the dead stock companies began to sell their wares at deeply discounted prices to carnivals, which was used by the carnivals as prizes in their games. During this period many companies shut shop.
Known as “carnival glass” by glass collectors, the popularity of carnival glass bowls surged in the 1950s. Originally used as carnival prizes, today reproductions are made by several companies. Fenton glass in particular is a prized collectible and the most frequently manufactured.
At present, auctions, antique shops, and online stores are the best places where one could get carnival glass at various prices. Fenton antique glass as well as other well-known carnival glass fetches high prices. Popular colors of these glasses are marigold, as well as dark hues like blue and green. However, carnival glass bowls in red or pastel color are the costliest item of this category. On a popular auction website, one rare ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55!
These are many ways to collect more information about antique collectibles- books, websites, newsletters, and other documents will help any interested person find out about the designs, shapes, and sizes of antiques available. Many organizations are devoted to bringing collectors together to help them learn more about collecting.
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.