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.
Among the greatest producers of this type of glass was Millersburg glass Company in Ohio. The first glass products by that company were crystal however the Millersburg plant decided to follow success for iridescent glassware. So in the beginning of 1910 the Millersburg Company started its line of Radium glasswares
The prices of Carnival glass vary widely depending on their quality and availability. This glass is a highly collectible item with some of the pieces worth very little, while other, rarer items command thousands of dollars. There is a very active market for this item since it has become an antique glass collectible.
Identification of carnival glass is a very difficult task. Most of the manufacturers did not include a maker’s mark in their product, while the others did so only for part of the time they produced the glass. To identify this glass, one has to match patterns, colors, sheen, edges, thickness, and other factors from old manufacturer’s trade catalogs, other known examples, or other reference material. Since many manufacturers produced close copies of their rivals’ popular patterns, identifying it is a challenge even for an expert.
Carnival glass or Iridescent Ware was introduced in 1907 and had a metallic sheen from a spray of salts when hot. This inexpensive pressed glass, also known as dope glass is made for functional/ornamental objects. Due to lack of demand price was discounted. Available colors are primarily amethyst/marigold/cobalt/green/red. Vaseline or uranium glass had uranium salts and hence was discontinued. Millersburg glass Company was the greatest producer of this type of glass. Initially this was made as crystal and later on as iridescent glassware. The prices vary depending on their quality/availability. This is antique glass collectible and has market. Identification of this glass is based on patterns/colors/sheen/edges/thickness etc.
