Carnival Glass Collecting

Carnival Glass Collecting is the pursuit of gathering carnival glass, pressed glass finished with an iridescent shimmer by applying metallic salts while the glass is still hot. The style began in 1908 when the Fenton Art Glass Company launched a line called Iridill in imitation of costly blown art glass by makers such as Tiffany and Steuben; when it failed to sell at that premium, it was discounted, and while some was distributed as carnival prizes, most is thought to have been bought by ordinary households wanting bright decoration at a time when electric lighting was a luxury. American production peaked through the 1920s and largely ended after 1931, though some European makers continued into the 1940s, and Fenton itself later returned to limited production before closing in 2007. Collectors now seek pieces for their color and shimmer, with prices ranging from a few dollars to several thousand at antique markets and online.