Whenever I see a carnival glass vase or bowl, I always pause to take a closer look. Its unique iridescent coloring has made carnival glass a popular collectible through the years. Click on the following links to see photos of carnival glass vases, platters, bowls and more:
Carnival Glass Society of South Australia
While today a rare carnival glass vase can command thousands of dollars, carnival glass had humble beginnings. Iridescent carnival glass was an inexpensive type of pressed glass that was created in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. Hundreds of different patterns were made, and so much of the glass was produced that the surplus was given away at carnivals as prizes, hence the moniker “carnival” glass.
At the time, glass artists created one-of-a-kind iridescent pieces for the enjoyment of wealthy clients. These exclusive pieces underwent a long and laborious process to achieve the desirable iridescent effect. Pressed glass producers found they could create a similar effect by applying metallic oxides to the heated glass. The resulting carnival glass could be sold for pennies a piece, making attractive iridescent glass accessible to anyone.
Some of the most recognizable producers of carnival glass were Fenton, Northwood, Dugan, Imperial and Millersburg. Most collectible carnival glass was made between around 1905 and the 1930s, however iridescent glass is still made today. Modern carnival glass is sometimes misidentified as vintage by inexperienced dealers, so as always, before purchasing a piece of carnival glass make sure to ask questions and do research to know exactly what you’re getting.
While some of the rare and difficult to find pieces are quite costly, the sheer number of carnival glass pieces produced means there are plenty of beautiful carnival glass items at more modest prices.
For anyone interested in finding out more about carnival glass, there is a wonderful tutorial at the Carnival Heaven website.
