Carnival Glass - The History
Monday, August 27th, 2007 by Subscribe To Our Feed
Carnival Glass was initially called Iridescent Ware when it was introduced in late 1907. The name carnival glass was not commonly used until collectors in the 1950s began to refer to it as such. This innovative glassware typically featured a vivid metallic sheen of changing hues on pressed glass articles made in highly-patterned moulds. The secret behind the Iridescent Ware was a special spray of metallic salts on the glass while it was very hot.
Carnival glass is a colored, inexpensive pressed glass that was used to make both functional and ornamental objects. It can be found in a wide range of iridescent colors. Carnival glass is sometimes called dope glass by glass workers because doping is the process of applying the color to the glass surface. Carnival glass production started in 1907. It was used in production of many different pieces and in more than 150 patterns. However, since it did not command the prices expected, it was subsequently discounted.
Translucent colors such as amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green, and red compose this glass, though it is also made in an opaque white referred to as milk glass. The glass was also made in semi-transparent or translucent pale green, and was called Vaseline or uranium glass; trace amounts of uranium salts were contained in the glass, which could produce a faint green glass glow in reaction to UV light. This was, of course, before the hazards of radiation were fully known and understood.
Millersburg glass Company is one of the largest producers of this kind of glass. Crystals were the first glass products of the company. But they decided to go for iridescent glassware to ride the wave of enthusiasm. So, during the early 1910, the line of Radium Glassware was brought out by Millersburg glass Company.
Carnival glass is highly collectable item. Prices vary widely, with some of the pieces worth very little, while other, rarer items command thousands of dollars. It has become an antique glass collectible and there is a very active market for it.
The identification of the glass of carnival is as an operation much difficult one. Great part of the suppliers has not included the mark of the creator in their product, while the others have made therefore only for the part of the time that have produced the glass. In order to identify this glass, one must bind together the models, colors, splendor, edges, thickness and other factors from catalogue of the old supplier, other known examples, or the other material of reference. From many suppliers the produced near copies of the popular models of theirs available again, identifying it are a challenge also for an expert.
Carnival glass is made as both functional and ornamental objects. This innovative glassware made in highly patterned moulds has a vivid metallic sheen of changing hues on pressed glass articles. This glass is available in many translucent colors like primarily amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green and red. It is also made in opaque white, which is also referred to as milk glass. Prices vary widely depending on their quality and availability. It has become an antique glass collectible. To figure out who made the glass one has to match, patterns, colors, sheen, edges, thickness etc. One of the biggest producers is millersburg glass company in Ohio.
- M Green
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