Carnival Glass Values Depend on Many Factors

Q: I’ve dealt in antiques since 1974. I purchased these ten carnival glass bowls as a lot. They have no markings that I can find, and I have been unable to locate the maker. Four of the bowls in picture five have a finish and color I have not seen before. The patterns are on the interior of all the bowls. The bowls are not as weighty as normal. The patterns and colors are quite clear. Two have a two-part mold seam, and the others are three-part. They were expensive, and I have no doubt that if sold, I would lose money on them. (Size runs from 9 to 12 inches.)

Would you identify the maker, some of the patterns, and a ballpark value?

— F.W.T., Texas

A: Thank you for bringing the vast field of the study of carnival glass to the attention of the readers of Kovels Antique Trader magazine. Carnival glass originated as a glass called 'Iridill,' produced beginning in 1908 by the Fenton Art Glass Company. 

Carnival glass was produced in large quantities in the United States by Fenton, Northwood, Imperial, Millersburg, Westmoreland, and other glass manufacturers, but Fenton remained the largest producer of carnival glass. The company has also been credited with more than 150 various patterns. While interest waned in the 1920s in the U.S., European glass companies continued production. Fenton later restarted its production of carnival glass until its closure in 2007. Any production of carnival glass from 1950 and after is referred to as “late carnival.”

Carnival glass is a vast subject, and to properly authenticate your collection of ten carnival bowls, I recommend a hands-on examination (especially since you mentioned you felt the bowls did not have the usual weight) There are a number of very good books on the market that can assist with carnival glass identification. Reproductions are commonplace these days. Carnival glass is assessed based on a grading scale to determine ultimate value and desirability.

Each piece is looked at for 1) the quality of the iridescence, worn or uneven wear; 2) base color is important because some colors are rarer; 3) the number of ruffles on each piece; 4) shape; 5) overall desirability; 6) the overall rarity of color and pattern; 7) condition; 8) whether it is marked or signed by the maker; 9) is it an original or reproduction.

I will identify and use as an example, the top row, far left bowl. This bowl is a great example of a popular piece produced in a variety of colors and how those colors may affect value. While doing research and referring to the reference book Carnival Glass – The Best of the Best, Identification Guide to Rare and Unusual Pieces by Bill Edwards and Mike Carwile, your particular bowl was identified as “Good Luck” by Harry Northwood. The bowl in your photo is the common color--amethyst.

The Good Luck Bowl is pictured in the rare colors of aqua opalescent, ice green, and ice blue, commanding higher values.  A Good Luck plate is also shown in electric purple, and the authors state that plates in this pattern are scarcer than bowls.

As you can see from the previous example, many factors determine the value of each piece of carnival glass. In order to determine the value of your collection, you can research one of the many carnival glass books available or seek a hands-on examination of each piece of carnival glass in your collection by a certified appraiser or a glass in your area to determine an accurate value. Thanks to social media, you can also look to one of the many glass groups on Facebook for assistance. Many of these groups house some expert carnival glass collectors.

Updated by Kele Johnson

This article was originally published in Antique Trader magazine. If you like what you’ve read here, consider subscribing to Kovels Antique Trader and get a full issue delivered right to your door or inbox.
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