What is the difference between carnival glass and depression glass?

Both carnival and depression glass are colored. However, carnival glass features an iridescent, multicolored look, whereas depression glass has more of a simple, single-colored, transparent look. Carnival glass was made to inexpensively mimic glass made by the Tiffany Company.

How can you tell the difference between depression glass and carnival glass?

Depression glass can be distinguished from carnival glass from its lack of the iridescent metallic rainbow effect that carnival glass has. Depression glass also tends to be one overall color, as opposed to the multi-colored look of carnival glass.

How can you tell real carnival glass?

Identify the color to see if the piece has a traditional carnival glass color. Some colors are simple to distinguish and identify, like the common, yellowish marigold or a simple red. However, experts on carnival glass have categorized almost 50 different colors that the vintage pieces can have.

What is the rarest color of carnival glass?

While there are many beautiful colors of carnival glass, some are rarer than others. One of the rarest and most valuable colors is purple. Other rare colors include red, orange and yellow. These colors are less common because they were difficult to produce during the time period when carnival glass was made.

Is carnival glass worth anything?

With its stunningly beautiful colors, iridescent glaze, and endless variety, carnival glass is a popular collector's item that used to be given away for free. Today, it's common for single pieces to fetch $30 to $50 at auction with especially desirable items selling for much more.

History Of Antique American Depression Or Carnival Glass

How can you tell Depression glass?

When did they stop making carnival glass?

After interest declined 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 ware and continued making it until about 2007.

What year is carnival glass from?

History. Carnival glass originated as a glass called 'Iridill', produced beginning in 1908 by the Fenton Art Glass Company (founded in 1905). Iridill was inspired by the fine blown art glass of such makers as Tiffany and Steuben, but did not sell at the anticipated premium prices and was subsequently discounted.

How can you tell Fenton carnival glass?

To identify whether a piece of glass is Fenton glass, look for a sticker near the bottom of the item. The stickers are usually oval and may have scalloped or smooth edges. You may also see an oval with the word Fenton stamped into the glass if the piece was made after 1970.

What are the different patterns of carnival glass?

Separately, we list patterns that feature animals, berries, birds, buildings, butterflies/insects, fish, flowers, foliage, fruit, grapes, lettered pieces and people. There is also an index of Contemporary Carnival, of decorated pieces, and of vases.

Is carnival glass coated?

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.

Is carnival glass still being made?

Carnival Glass is pressed glass that has been iridized with a metallic spray. It was introduced by Fenton about 1908 and other glass manufacturers soon followed suit (for a brief history of Carnival, click here). It is still being made today.

What color glass is most valuable?

Pink glass is most valuable, followed by blue and green. Rare colors such as tangerine and lavender are also worth more than common colors like yellow and amber.

Why do they call it depression glass?

Depression glass is so called because collectors generally associate mass-produced glassware in pink, yellow, crystal, and green with the Great Depression in America.

Does all depression glass glow?

Both green Depression glass and Vaseline glass will glow under a black light due ​to the uranium oxide content in the glass. Old Burmese glass fluoresces a similar yellow-green color. American colorless pressed glass made before 1930 is said to fluoresce yellow, while reproductions generally do not.

What is Depression glass worth?

Produced by Hocking Glass Company around 1929 to 1933, this green glass cup is a common find. The value has generally held steady around $5 for a single cup for a few decades.

What colors do carnival glass come in?

Carnival glass colors definitions are based on the color of the glass, with the exception of marigold, clambroth, white, and some smoke, which are clear glass. The most common color is marigold, followed by amethyst/purple, blue, and green.

Is carnival glass the same as uranium glass?

7) Uranium Glass

Also called Vaseline glass, these pieces are usually yellow or green and have graced many an American table. As part of the carnival glass craze, these pieces were often given as prizes at fairs in the 1930s.

Can you put carnival glass in the dishwasher?

Five Things to Avoid When Cleaning Carnival Glass

These habits can cause permanent damage and destroy the value of your glass: Never clean antique carnival glass in the dishwasher. Most carnival glass was made before the dishwasher was invented, and the soap and high temperatures can destroy it.

What is marigold carnival glass?

But what exactly is marigold? Simply put, it is clear glass with an orange iridescence. The orange colour that collectors call marigold comes wholly from the metal salts (iron chloride) in the iridescent spray (sometimes referred to as “dope”).

What glass is worth money?

Look for pink, blue and green glassware

Pink, green and blue are the most valuable colors of depression glass. Pink tends to be the most valuable because it is more rare. Yellow and amber colored depression glass is more common and therefore less valuable.

What companies made carnival glass?

Who Made Carnival Glass? Shortly after the innovative iridescent ware was introduced by the Fenton Art Glass Co. in late 1907, four other American glass manufacturers created their versions of this novel product.

Does carnival glass contain uranium?

​The reason for the glow is that the glass batch contains uranium dioxide as a colorant, and when exposed to ultra-violet light, the electrons in the glass are “excited” which causes that magical glow (known as fluorescence).

Can you microwave carnival glass?

Avoid Heat and Cold

Warm it slowly, cool it down slowly. Any rapid changes of temperature can cause it to crack - collectors call it a "visit from the ping fairy!" - because glass naturally has internal stresses (from when and how it was made) that can be affected by rapid temperature changes.