Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Tell if Fenton Glass Is Vintage

Fenton glass has been in production since the Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by Frank L. and John W. Fenton. The different colors and types of glassware produced are documented in their catalogs, books and on-line. Identifying vintage Fenton glass requires knowledge of these resources and the glassware itself. Vintage is generally accepted as anything twenty years old or older. Fenton's method of marking their products has varied over the years, from stamps impressed directly into the bottom of the glassware itself to stickers affixed to the bottom. Since these stickers are removable, they have sometimes been used to make fake reproductions look like the real thing.

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the pattern and shape of the Fenton glassware object to help identify what the object is, such as a sugar and creamer set or a vase. Many patterns have descriptive names that can be easily identified, such as "Dragon and Strawberry" or "Grape and Cable." Four popular patterns produced between 1939 and1980 are Coin Dot, Crests, Hobnail and Spiral Optic.
- 2
  Examine the bottom to find any marks -- stamps, mold marks or stickers -- used to help identify the piece.
- 3
  Note the color or colors used on the piece, as well as any painted or etched markings that make up part of the pattern. Iridescence on the surface is another defining characteristic of many carnival glass pieces produced by Fenton during the early 1900s through the 1920s. There are numerous vintage colors that span the color spectrum, are associated with particular patterns, and change for each era of production, including French Opalescent, Cranberry Opalescent, Blue Ridge, Ivory Crest, Peach Crest, Rose Crest, Blue Pastel, Green Pastel, Rose Pastel, and many others.
- 4
  Visit the Fenton website and museum, as well as antique shops and gift stores, to familiarize yourself with the variety of objects, patterns and colors of vintage Fenton glassware.
- 5
  Check books about Fenton glassware such as "Fenton Art Glass Patterns 1907-1939" by Margaret and Kenn Whitmyer, or "Fenton Glass - The First Twenty-Five Years" by William Heacock. Use the information gathered in the previous steps to find the piece and its date or dates of production.
- 6
  Contact an independent appraiser for further verification, if desired.

Antiques