Carnival Glass originally called Iridescent Ware first came out
Mar 16, 2008 in General, Arts, Recreation
Carnival Glass, originally called Iridescent Ware, first came out in late 1907. It was not commonly referred to as Carnival Glass until the 1950s, though, when collectors started calling it that. These pieces were typically made from extremely ornate glass pieces, characterized by the myriad hues of their sheens. Their luster was achieved by applying metallic salt sprays to the glass before it had completely cooled down.
Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass, made as both functional and ornamental objects, found in a wide spectrum of colors. This glass is sometimes referred to as dope glass by the glass workers because the process of applying the iridescent coloring to the surface is called doping. Its production started in 1907 in many different pieces in over 150 patterns. However, it did not command the prices expected, and 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.
Millersburg glass Company is one of the largest producers of this kind of glass. Crystals were the first glass products of the company. But they decided to go for iridescent glassware to ride the wave of enthusiasm. So, during the early 1910, the line of Radium Glassware was brought out by Millersburg glass Company.
Carnival glass is highly collectible item. Prices vary widely, with some of the pieces worth very little, while other, rarer items command thousands of dollars. It has become an antique glass collectible and there is a very active market for it.
The identification of the glass of carnival is as an operation much difficult one. Great part of the suppliers has not included the mark of the creator in their product, while the others have made therefore only for the part of the time that have produced the glass. In order to identify this glass, one must bind together the models, colors, splendor, edges, thickness and other factors from catalogue of the old supplier, other known examples, or the other material of reference. From many suppliers the produced near copies of the popular models of theirs available again, identifying it are a challenge also for an expert.
At the time of introduction in late 1907 this
art glass was called as Iridescent Ware. The prices of this 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. Among the greatest producers of this type of glass was millersburg glass in Ohio. It is very hard to identify these products, because the makers didn’t consistently mark their work.



