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How to Date a Fenton Vase

Started in 1905, the Fenton Art Glass Company is the United State's largest art glass maker and is known the world over for its decorative glass. Fenton pieces are valued by today's collectors. The company manufactures a wide range of wares in various colors and sizes. Many of the pieces display intricate hand-painted designs. Because of the variety of Fenton products, some collectors specialize in one area, such as Fenton vases. Learning to date Fenton vases takes some effort and research, but the payoff is discovering more about this iconic American glassware.

Instructions

- 1
  Check for a label or logo. Examine your piece to see if it is marked. The style of the label or logo can help to date your vase. For example, current Fenton vases are marked with the company name inside an oval with a "1" placed under the name. This logo is on pieces made in 2010 and onward. It will be used until 2019. The Fenton website offers an illustrated guide and time line for the labels and logos used since the company's inception.
- 2
  Use Fenton guidebooks. A trip to the local library or bookstore will yield books that show examples of Fenton glass from throughout the company's history. Match your glassware to the examples in these books to see when specific pieces were manufactured. Examples of collectors guides include "Fenton Art Glass: A Centennial of Glass Making 1907 to 2007" by Debbie Coe and Randy Coe, "Warman's Fenton Glass: Identification and Price Guide" by Mark F. Moran, and "Fenton Glass: The First, Second and Third Twenty-Five Years" by William Heacock.
- 3
  Look through Fenton catalogs. Going through catalogs is especially helpful if your piece is unmarked. Fenton product catalogs from the 1950s to today are available for viewing on the Internet. Compare the shape, color, and decoration of your vase to those in a catalog to get an idea of when it was produced.
- 4
  Consult other collectors. Fenton collectors are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Network with other collectors to find help in identifying the date of your glassware. There are three national collectors clubs: The Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America, The National Fenton Glass Society, and The Pacific Northwest Fenton Association. Each organization has its own newsletter and annual convention. Joining these or a regional club lets you learn more about dating Fenton art glass.

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