Carnival glass bowls are part of a larger collection of collectable items called carnival glass. Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass to which an iridescent coating has been applied, giving it an oil-like sheen. The process is sometimes known as doping, leading some glass manufacturers to call it “dope glass”. It originated in the early 1900s, and production waned in the mid to late thirties.

The glass manufacturer Fenton is the first, largest and widely recognized producer of carnival glass. To start with, this company decorated blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 they started creating carnival glass. Fenton marketed its glassware immediately after starting production as “Iridill” or iridescent ware. This became popular and many other companies followed suit by making and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.

In the late twenties, demand for their products began to wane. This was due to the decrease in sales during the Depression, and also in part to the saturation of the market by glass companies. To get rid of stock, companies began selling their wares at deeply discounted prices to carnivals, which the carnivals then used as prizes for their games. Several companies went out of business during this period.

“Carnival glass” refers to glass bowls given as carnival prizes in the early part of the 20th century, as well as reproductions made by several companies in the 1950s, thanks to renewed popularity at that time. Today, both the antique Fenton style and the later styles are prized by collectors.

At present, auctions, antique shops, and online stores are the best places where one could get carnival glass at various prices. Fenton antique glass as well as other well-known carnival glass fetches high prices. Popular colors of these glasses are marigold, as well as dark hues like blue and green. However, carnival glass bowls in red or pastel color are the costliest item of this category. On a popular auction website, one rare ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55!

For the would-be collector, there are many resources full of information available. Many websites and books are available for information on the many shapes and sizes these antiques come in. There are even organizations for would-be enthusiasts, which is a great way to learn more.

One great collectible is carnival glass bowls. These are produced by pressing the glass and coating it which gives it shiny look. This process is known as doping, hence this glass is also sometimes referred to as dope glass. Adopted in the early 1900s it lasted only till the mid to late thirties, and today is extinct. One company, fenton glassware was marketed as “Iridill” or iridescent ware. It quickly became a hit and many other companies began copying them. The demand for their products began to decline in the late twenties. Today, both the antique fenton glass and the later styles are prized.