Early Innovations from Fenton Art Glass

One of the first colors produced by the new company was called Chocolate Glass, and in late 1907, Fenton began to make iridescent pressed glass. Fifty years later this glass was called Carnival Glass. Iridescent glass was the backbone of the Fenton line for the next ten years, and it helped the company become successful in those early years. Iridescent glass was still selling in the 1920s, but it was made in delicate pastel colors with very little pattern in a treatment called "stretch glass". High quality Carnival Glass now sells for as much as $600 to $4,500 a piece. A recent rare piece sold for $22,500.

A Perfume Bottle Cures Depression Doldrums

During the '30s and '40s, Fen ton Art Glass struggled to survive the depression and war shortages along with other American manufactures. Fen ton switched to producing mixing bowls and orange juice reamers to keep people working, but did not hold back on developing beautiful new colors. Jade, Mandarin Red, Mulberry and Peach Blow from this period are eagerly sought by Fen ton collectors today. Fenton recovered after the depression with the help of a little hobnail perfume bottle designed at the behest of the Allen B. Company. The bottle business made Fenton well again and also opened new business for hobnail glass and antique reproductions of Victorian Glass.

Fenton's Second Generation

Between 1948 and 1949, the top three members of Fenton management died, and brothers Frank M. Fenton, age 33 and Bill Fenton. age 25, took over as President and of Sales respectively. The next five years were rough ones, but then milk glass began to sell beautifully all over the country. Fenton's Hobnail milk glass became the company's bread-and-butter line.

The team of Frank and Bill fenton led the factory through significant growth for the next 30-plus years. Together they continued to develop new designs based on the flexibility and character of handmade glass. Often they have said that Fenton's success depends on crafting items that cannot be made by machine.

New Leadership for the 1980s, 1990s and Beyond

In February, 1986, the leadership of Fenton Art Glass passed to the third generation when George W. Fenton became President. Bill Fenton is Chairman of the Board and Frank is retired, but both are at work every day as advisors. There are seven third-generation Fentons actively employed in the glass business and gift shop, and a fourth-generation member has just joined the team.

While a number of hand-glass companies have closed their doors over the past 15 years, Fenton has survived and grown by continuing to be flexible- and by offering a stream of new products to the market.

A Rainbow of Fenton Glass

Fenton Art Glass is renowned for creating beautiful and unique colors in glass. These include exotic glass varieties such as Carnival, Stretch, Opalescent, Cranberry, Mulberry, Burmese, Rosalene and Favrene.

The iridescent glass now known as "Carnival" reigned as Fenton's major product from 1907 to 1920. The blue-green treatment has proven most popular, while red Carnival is rarest and most valuable. "Stretch" glass created in the early 1920s, is made by spraying hot glass with metallic salts and then reheating to create a satin finish. When flared or crimped, the metallic skin on the glass surface stretches creating a satin finish.

Like the fiery opal stone, Opalescent glass creates a wondrous effect through a secret blend of ingredients matched with a skillful balance of chilling and reheating. The result is a gleaming transparent color glass that shades to opaque white. Cranberry glass was developed in England over 100 years ago and has been beloved by American collectors since its first appearance in the market. Fenton Cranberry follows the original formula beginning with a layer of gold ruby which is encased in sparkling crystal and then mouth blown to its final shape.

Mulberry glass also requires the addition of pure gold along with a layer of cobalt blue. A team of 24 skilled craftsmen gather, blow, finish and handle these multi-layered, heirloom-quality pieces for Fenton.

The most collectible glasses from Fenton recreate three beautiful treatments from the "Golden Age of Glass," 1860-1920. The first is Burmese glass made with both gold and uranium. The name was provided when its blushing pink edges on creamy yellow glass reminded Queen Victoria of a Burmese sunset. Rosalene glass is also noted for its deep pink edges but on a white background. Both colors require careful reheating to develop their unique shaded colorations.

The third collectible treatment is Favrene which first appeared over 100 years ago and was made popular by Louis C. Tiffany. Pure silver in the formula is coaxed to the surface when the glass is reheated.

Special Fenton Offerings Keep Collectors Enthralled

Each year, Fenton Art Glass produces new editions to several popular limited edition series. These include the Historical Collection, Connoisseur Collection, Family Signature Series, And Valentines.

Classic molds from the past inspire the Historical Collectionpieces, all made in the special colors and treatments that have been used with shapes. Each year the Connoisseur Collection,Fenton selects a small grouping of art objects -- unique in design, made in exotic glass treatments, and limited in number. Seven Connoisseur offerings for 1994 included a Favrene piece and a reverse painted lamp.

Fenton offers four editions of beautifully detailed glass Collectible Eggs,hand painted and signed by its artist. Each numbered, gift-boxed egg boasts a 22k gold plated base. For Christmas, Fenton produces an annual limited edition collection including a plate, bell fairy light and lamp -- all entirely handpainted. The 1994 theme was "silent Night," first edition in the Christmas Star series. It features a starlight woodland scene in metallic paints on Cobalt Satin Glass.

The Family Signature series includes a few select pieces which represent the glass worker's and decorator's finest creations, within a very limited time frame. Each bears the signature of a Fenton family member. As for Valentines, Fenton introduces three new items each year in a Cranberry Opalescent Heart pattern, as well as one to three items in the Mary Gregory style of painting. Both offerings are limited to a specific selling period.

To be continued........


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This page was last modified 4/25/96