Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Douglass Brown and by How.com.vn staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Douglass Brown is a Glassblowing Expert based in Half Moon Bay, California. He has over 25 years of experience as a glass artist, and is the owner and operator of 2 glass blowing studios in the San Francisco Bay Area, Half Moon Bay Art Glass and Mare Island Art Glass. Douglass believes in sharing hot glass experiences with anyone who wants to learn about the processes of blowing and sculpting glass. When not teaching, Douglass creates glass art that is a mix of his takes on nature and functional glassware. He has also created the Glass Troubadours, which is a mobile glass blowing studio that hosts parties, events, and visits craft shows.
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Fenton Art Glass Company has been in business for over 100 years, and they are the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the U.S. Finding a piece of Fenton glass at an antique shop or online auction can be exciting, but you may not know how to tell if it’s real. By learning the markings used on Fenton glass, as well as studying the styles, you can identify Fenton glass yourself!
Steps
Check for a sticker on the bottom of your item. Before 1970, Fenton glass was usually marked with oval stickers. Many of these stickers were lost or removed over time, but some of them are still attached. The stickers are often affixed to the bottom of the glass.- Stickers may be an oval foil sticker with scalloped or smooth edges.
Examine carnival glass for an oval logo starting from about 1970. The first Fenton logo to be stamped into the glass was the word Fenton inside of an oval. It can be found on carnival glass pieces including vases, dishes, and decorative items that were made starting in 1970.[1]- This logo was added to hobnail glass pieces, which have a bumpy texture, beginning in 1972-1973.
- Some of Fenton’s markings are obscured during finishing treatments. If a mark isn’t obvious immediately, look again more closely for a faint, raised oval.[2]
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Check for a small number in the oval that denotes the year. In the 1980s, Fenton added a number 8 to the logo to indicate the decade when the pieces were made. They used a 9 during the 90s and a 0 from 2000 to the present. These numbers may be small and hard to see.[3]
Examine the piece for a cursive F in an oval. If your piece is marked with an F in an oval, it indicates that the glass mold was originally owned by a company other than Fenton, and Fenton later acquired that mold. This mark came into use in 1983.[4]
Check for a flame or a star on the piece. You may notice a flame which resembles the letter S, a solid star, or the outline of a star somewhere on your item. This indicates that the piece is a second, or was found to have some defect while still at the factory. These pieces can still be collectible.- Beginning in 1998, an uppercase block F was used to mark seconds.
Check the bottom of the glass for a pontil mark, which Fenton doesn't have. Some glass makers use punty rods to hold a glass piece during the crafting process. When it’s removed, it leaves a mark called a pontil mark. Fenton uses snap rings, so most of their pieces will not have a pontil mark.- Pontil marks might look like a chip in the glass, a bumpy lump, or a dimple in the bottom of the glass.
- Fenton has created some offhand glass pieces which do have a pontil mark. These include some very rare pieces from the 1920s and a few contemporary hand blown collections.
Purchase a collector’s book or find a Fenton glassware catalogue. Study the pictures in your books to familiarize yourself with Fenton’s style. By studying existing pictures, you’ll be able to identify characteristics which distinguish Fenton from other manufacturers. [5]- For instance, if you find a carnival glass dish featuring a peacock, you can distinguish it from other manufacturer’s of the period by noting that in a Fenton piece, the peacock’s neck will be completely straight, while others curve slightly.
Pay special attention to the bases and edges of Fenton’s glass. The base will have a flat, collared surface, or it may have a ball or spatula feet. The edges are often smooth, bracketed, crimped, or ruffled, and are one of Fenton’s most recognizable characteristics.[6]- Fenton primarily produced carnival glass, which has an iridescent sheen, although some of their pieces are opalescent glass, which is translucent.
- Fenton also specialized in a form of glass known as Hobnail, which is covered with small button-like bumps.[7]
Look for bubbles or flaws in the glass, which Fenton shouldn't have. Fenton glass is extremely high quality, and it should be free of air bubbles or other flaws. If your piece has obvious manufacturing flaws, it is unlikely to be Fenton glass.
Contact a Fenton dealer or an antique expert if you still have questions. Due to similarities between manufacturers, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between some pieces. If you aren't able to tell after examining your piece, look online to find a Fenton dealer or an antique dealer in your area who specializes in Fenton glass.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhere can I find collectors of Fenton glass?
Community AnswerThere is a collectors museum of Fenton Glass in Williamstown, West Virginia. You could try their website or arrange a visit if you're close by. - QuestionI have recently bought a lovely little nativity scene jar candle holder it has a label saying Fenton on it. How can I tell if it's authentic?
Community AnswerCheck if it came with a card that says it's real. You could also google the serial number*. * a serial number is the line of numbers and digits that look kind of like this: LD7Q90. - QuestionWhat is the best way to sell Fenton glass? Is it eBay, Etsy or something else?
COOkie_000Community AnswerBoth Etsy and eBay are a good way, but Mercari is also a good option. It's up to you.
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about working with glass, check out our in-depth interview with Douglass Brown.
References
- ↑ https://adirondackgirlatheart.com/collecting-vintage-fenton-glass/
- ↑ https://adirondackgirlatheart.com/collecting-vintage-fenton-glass/
- ↑ https://adirondackgirlatheart.com/collecting-vintage-fenton-glass/
- ↑ https://adirondackgirlatheart.com/collecting-vintage-fenton-glass/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1_X64CjbLw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1iFSfVI_k
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1iFSfVI_k
About This Article
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. Other markings that indicate a piece is Fenton glass include a cursive F in an oval, a faint oval somewhere on the piece, an S-shaped flame, a star, or an uppercase block F. For tips on identifying Fenton glass without a marking, read on!
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