You may also see an oval with the word Fenton stamped into the glass if the piece was made after 1970. Other markings that indicate a piece is Fenton glass include a cursive F in an oval, a faint oval somewhere on the piece, an S-shaped flame, a star, or an uppercase block F.
For newer pieces, look for the raised maker's mark in the glass. It will usually appear as the word Fenton or the letter F situated inside an oval. If you need assistance authenticating your piece, have a certified appraiser or experienced dealer evaluate it.
If your piece id from before the 1970's its possible it has no mark. Vintage Fenton Art Glass sells for about 100-120 dollars at auction. Look for a Fenton tag (used before 1970), look for the Fenton mark (“Fenton” in an oval), look for “F” in an oval, indicating another company's mold was used (1983+).
The Fenton logo of an oval with Fenton written in script (shown on the left) was introduced in 1970 on carnival glass pieces, to identify these pieces as contemporary and not old. This was such a successful idea that it was extended to all Fenton glassware produced from 1974 onwards.
The use of a logo on Carnival proved so popular that there was a call for its use on all glass, in the the line, and the company adopted this idea in 1974. Thus almost all Fenton items made since 1974 have the Fenton logo impressed on them.
As stated above, most markings will be located on the bottom. Identifiers, such as embossed markings, can be found on the side. When trying to date your glassware you can look on the bottom for Pontil marks or Mold lines as those will help you determine whether the glass was hand-blown or manufactured.
Color and pattern, which helps identify both the rareness of the piece as well as its manufacturer. Some of the most valuable colors are cherry red, black amethyst, and ice green.
Many Fenton items are being sold on eBay and Facebook. See the article below. If you have a larger collection, then you could consider an auction. One of the most experienced Fenton auctioneers is Randy Clark Auctions in Dexter City, Ohio.
The Fenton cranberry glass color comes from pure gold. Glass colors (yellow or green) containing uranium will fluoresce under black light. No two Fenton pieces are exactly the same. Moulds for glassmaking are made of cast iron.
Fenton and his brother John W. Fenton start the Fenton Art Glass Company in rented space in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The Fenton factory is built in Williamstown, West Virginia. The first piece made on January 2, 1907, is a crystal cream pitcher with a Water Lily and Cattails pattern.
Traditional glassmaking ceased in 2011. The Fenton Art Glass Company property was sold in 2017 to Wood County Schools. Plans are for the factory to be demolished and a new elementary school built on the site.
Federal Glass Company
This one has an "F" within a shield mark used on many Federal pieces, but some were not marked. The unmarked items are recognized as Federal pieces through pattern identification.
Fenton Art Glass opened in 1905 and for more than 100 years it was the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. Fenton's glass works are renowned for innovative colors and hand-painted decorations on pressed and blown glassware.
Mid-century glass is the hottest collectible antique glass on the market today. Mid-century glass refers to the different types of glass made from the 1940s through the 1970s, ranging from Fire King kitchenware to milk glass dinnerware. There were many pieces of art glass made during this period.
Take some time and look closely at the piece's shape, surface, weight, and quality—all potential clues for you. “Is the glass transparent or opalescent or iridescent?,” Robinson asks. “Is there any decoration that might give away what it is or who may have made it?” Look to see if the glass has been signed or marked.
The fact that the glass contains uranium has led many people to wonder if uranium glass is dangerous. However, as the amounts of uranium used in each piece are typically very low, it is safe to have in your home so long as it is used and handled correctly.
From circa 1943 until 1958, because of the events of World War II and the Cold War, U.S. officials did not allow the production of uranium glass since the government had banned uranium salts from commercial use. Only after uranium oxide was deregulated did the U.S. government allow uranium glass to be manufactured.
There are many glass experts across the country who are avid Fenton art glass collectors. Most of these people belong to one of the independent Fenton Collector Clubs. Each club has a newsletter and an annual convention for its members.
It's important to remember, just because a piece is not marked with a Fenton sticker or logo on the bottom does not mean you have not come across a piece of Fenton. Not all very early pieces were marked on the bottom and many pieces have lost their stickers over time.
Use mild detergents or ammonia in water for cleaning, but always cushion the sink or use a rubber tub to protect the glass when washing.
Pink and red (cranberry) glass is typically the most valuable and was made using gold oxide, while blue (made using cobalt salts), green (uranium), and yellow or amber (sulphur) tend to command lower prices.
After interest waned in the late 1920s, Fenton stopped producing carnival glass for many years. In more recent years, due to a resurgence in interest, Fenton restarted production of carnival glass until its closure in 2007. Most U.S. carnival glass was made before 1925, with production in clear decline after 1931.
Pink is the Most Valuable Color / of Depression glass sugarware with butterfly, floral, and cherry embellishments.