A carnival glass vase. Carnival glass gets its iridescent sheen from the application of metallic salts while the glass is still hot from the pressing. It was designed to look like the much finer and much more expensive blown iridescent glass by makers such as Tiffany.
Carnival glass is a type of pressed or molded glass manufactured during the early 1900s. Vastly cheaper than art glass to produce yet equally as alluring, Carnival glass quickly became a staple item in many American households. It was renowned for both its aesthetic qualities as decor and functionality as dishware.
Carnival glass is a highly sought-after collectible. Certain pieces made in a more common color are worth relatively little, but other rare items can command thousands of dollars. Carnival glass is frequently found in antique malls and remains a hot item for collectors.
Carnival Glass Colours - Green. The two colourants often used to create green glass were iron and chrome, as well as uranium for the yellow/yellow-green colour that glows brightly under ultra violet (UV) light, which is known to Carnival Glass collectors as vaseline.
Treat it gently and be careful not to knock it on taps (fawcets) etc. Best not to put it in a dishwasher unless it is new Carnival that has washing instructions with it. In a nutshell, Carnival is safe to use with food, as long as you are aware of the points mentioned above.
As they pushed the molten glass into the pattern lines are left from the mold in the glass. Some molds had 2 seams, others had four etc. This happens to be a footed piece. There you can see the feet.
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.
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.
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.
In fact, most U.S. carnival glass was made before 1925. Collectors gave it the name “Carnival Glass” in the 1950's because it was still being used as prizes at carnivals and fairgrounds. Carnival glass remains very collectible, with prices widely ranging from a few dollars to thousands for rare pieces.
Sell it off as individual pieces (eBay and/or lists, and/or club newsletters, and/or club conventions, or open a booth in an antique mall) Sell it through a 'local (general antiques) auction company. Sell part of it through a recognized 'carnival glass Auction company' now, and the rest later.
As with most sought-after antiques collectibles, Classic (old) Carnival Glass has been faked - contemporary items have been made intentionally to deceive and to be passed off as the genuine, original item.
Carnival glass, known for its iridescent sheen, was produced from the early 1900s to the 1930s and was originally a luxury item. In contrast, Depression glass was mass-produced during the Great Depression era (1929-1940) and is typically characterized by more muted colors and simpler designs.
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.
Carnival glass is a kind of iridescent glass coated to refract light, which gives the glass a rainbow appearance similar to what you see on an oil slick or the surface of a bubble.
Older pieces are more likely to have a “rusty” appearance from the aging metal oxide, as well as to show certain tool marks that indicate the early years of carnival glass. Tool marks which won't affect the value, often appear as deep scratches and grooves that don't seem intentional.
Also called Vaseline glass (resembling the vague lime color of Vaseline petroleum jelly), it glows a bright fluorescent green under an ultraviolet or black light.
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.
Perhaps the most reliable way to identify the presence of uranium in the glass is to expose it in the dark to a source of ultraviolet light (e.g., a black light). If the glass glows a rich green color, it contains uranium.
A: Vaseline glass is a specific type of uranium glass. It got its name from its distinctive yellowish color, which looks like petroleum jelly. It is also sometimes referred to as canary glass because of its yellow color.
Some of the most collectible types & styles of antique and vintage glassware include Depression Glass, Carnival Glass, Milk Glass, Moonstone, Hobnail Glass, and Jadeite. One of the most popular styles of antique glass was a Hen on Nest, also known as Animal Dishes because of the variety of animals they come in.
Once you've checked for a trademark (and not found one) the next great clue to whether a piece is a repro or not, is the base. Most (not all) Classic Carnival does not have iridescence on the base, but many newer items do—and this includes many of the reproductions.
Carnival glass was "worked" first and then iridized -- and carnival glass was heavily patterned while stretch glass has little or no pattern. Detail of stretch glass plate showing "onion skin" effect. This photo collage shows some of the variety of Stretch Glass.