Carnival glass bowls form part of the large carnival glass collectible items. These are produced by pressing the glass and coating it with an iridescent coating which gives it shiny look. This process is known as doping, hence this glass is also sometimes referred to as dope glass. This process was first adopted in the early 1900s and it lasted only till the mid to late thirties, and today is extinct.

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.

Known as “carnival glass” by glass collectors, the popularity of carnival glass bowls surged in the 1950s. Originally used as carnival prizes, today reproductions are made by several companies. Fenton glass in particular is a prized collectible and the most frequently manufactured.

You can find carnival glass for sale at auctions, antique shops and online. Prices vary, with the Fenton antique glass and other well-known producers demanding the higher prices. The more common colors are marigold and dark hues like blue and green. Red or pastel colored carnival glass bowls are the most prized and, therefore, the higer priced pieces. A rare ice-blue plate sold on a popular auction website 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.