What is carnival glass?
Around the turn of the 20th century, several American glassmakers, including the Fenton Art Glass and Northwood companies, attempted to create more affordable versions of the iridescent glassware produced by Tiffany and Steuben. Originally marketed as “Iridell” by Fenton, the sudden flood of inexpensive iridescent glass only succeeded in diluting the public’s interest in decorative glass from any maker. Examples of this type of pressed glass later became known to collectors as carnival glass. Carnival glass is considered a pressed glass, meaning hot molten glass, which may or may not contain color of its own, is poured into metal molds and conforms to their shape. While the glass is still hot, various solutions of metallic salts are sprayed onto the surface and the piece is reheated. The result is a piece of iridescent glassware with a rainbow-hued finish. Many pieces of carnival glass feature a distinctive marigold color with random swirls of other colors strewn throughout the glass.
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