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.
This glass is made in many translucent colors like primarily amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green, and red. It is also made in opaque white, which is referred to as milk glass. Before the hazards of radiation were well known, the glass was also made in semi-transparent or translucent pale green and was named as Vaseline or uranium glass. Vaseline glass and uranium glass contain traces of uranium salts in the glass which can make a faint green glass glow in reaction to UV light.
Millersburg glass Company, Ohio was one of the largest producers of this kind of glass. Though the first glass product of the company were crystal, the Millersburg plant decided to produce iridescent glassware looking to the popularity of it. In this way the Millersburg Company brought out its line of Radium glassware.
Carnival glass has become a popular item for collectors. Some pieces are worth pennies, but hard-to-find pieces can bring in hundreds or even thousands of dollars, making for a wide range in prices. The market is jumping for this antique glass collectible .
The carnival glass is very difficult to identify. Unfortunately, most of the manufacturers avoid including a maker’s mark in their product. Others did so only for part of the time they manufactured the glass. The process of identification involves matching of patterns, colors, sheen, edges, thickness, factors found in old manufacturer’s trade catalogs and other known examples, or other reference material. Identifying this glass has become a challenge even to experts since many manufacturers produced duplicates of their rivals’ popular patterns.
At the time of introduction in late 1907 the carnival glass was called as Iridescent Ware. However, people started using the name carnival only after collectors in the 1950s began to refer to it as such. 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. There is a very active market for this item since it has become an antique glass collectible. So even for an experienced expert this is a hard task.