Carnival Glass is a specialized type of molded, pressed iridescent glass that was first produced in the early 1900s. The appeal to collectors lies in the beauty of the iridescence and the uniqueness of each piece. Assigning a monetary value to a piece is not an exact science. There is an abundance of different styles and colors available, and the personal preference of the collector plays a significant part in determining how much will be paid for a particular piece.

Color

This is, obviously, the first thing that demands your attention. Carnival Glass gets its unique color from a process called iridization.The glass is first press molded into a particular shape. After it cools, it is reheated and then sprayed with a liquid solution of metallic salts. When this solution evaporates, it leaves a finely ridged, metallic film on the surface of the glass causing the rainbow effect unique to Carnival glass. There is a seemingly endless array of colors available (more than 50) Factors to consider regardless of your personal color preference: • Vivid and bright vs. dull and murky. The more vivid the color of a piece, the more it is worth. Dull and washed out color diminishes the value, no matter what the condition of the piece. • Iridescent quality. The iridescence should be evenly distributed over the surface of the piece. Bare spots and surface wear reduce the value. • Base coat color. All Carnival Glass has a base coat color, which can be determined by holding the piece up to a light source. The most common base coat color is marigold, red is the rarest.

Condition

No matter how beautiful or how attractive a piece is to you, damage anywhere on the piece greatly reduces its market value. • Look for chips, cracks and other signs of wear and tear on the surface of the piece. • Factory flaws, which occur during the formation of the glass, will also reduce the value, but not as much as damage from mishandling. • Note the location of any flaws or damage. Is it visible or hidden from view? While damage anywhere on the piece reduces the value, a beautiful piece can still be enjoyed if the flaws are not immediately noticeable.

Age

Production of the glass began in the early 1900s. By the 1920s, the demand for the glass had so decreased that manufacturers began selling it in bulk to traveling carnivals to give out as prizes (thus, the name). Determining the age of a piece is not easy as most of the old pieces are not marked. Using a reliable guide book can help, but if there is doubt, an expert should be consulted. The majority of pieces produced after 1960 will bear the manufacturer's mark, usually on the bottom of the piece. Generally, the older and rarer the piece, the more its value.

Manufacturer

There were five major manufacturers in the early 1900s: Dugan, Fenton, Imperial, Millersburg and Northwood. Fenton is the only one still in business today. There are many sources of modern glass and not just in the United States. Australia, England, Czechoslovakia, India, Sweden and Finland are a few countries that produce Carnival Glass. All modern pieces are stamped or engraved with the manufacturer's unique mark. Good quality pieces produced by the companies no longer in existence have a higher market value than more recent pieces; however, modern limited edition pieces can also be valuable.

Demand

This consideration trumps all others and is hard to quantify. How much is someone willing to pay for a particular piece? It may not be the rarest piece, it may not be the most beautiful piece, but if more than one person wants it for his collection and is willing to pay whatever it takes to obtain it, then the value will be greatly increased.

Warning

In 2006, collectors were warned that a Chinese company was producing modern "reproductions" of old glass, but without any modern markings to indicate the pieces were reproductions. These pieces were sold in online auction sites, so it was not possible to authenticate the pieces until after purchase. Be cautious when purchasing any Carnival Glass that you cannot inspect prior to purchasing.

Source:

Carnival Glass 101

David Doty's Carnival Glass Website

WWW.CGA

Resource:

David Doty's Carnival Glass Website