Radium glass vs uranium glass12/27/2023 Salts were also applied to white glass for an opal look or darker colors like purple, blue, and brown. Most commonly, a clear glass base was used and the metallic salts would grate a golden yellow oil slick color. The iridescence could be applied to all sorts of colors of glass. The glass is then fired a second time to make the coating permanent.Īlthough depression glass was pressed in a similar way, the salts were not used, so depression glass doesn’t have the same sheen as carnival glass. Right after pressing, while the glass is still hot, the salts are sprayed onto the surface of the glass. The color-changing rainbow finish that mimics the look of oil on water is caused by the application of metallic salts after the glass has been pressed. You can tell carnival glass apart from any other glassware because it has an unmistakable iridescent shine. The glass’s prevalence at carnivals and fairs introduced the name of “carnival glass”, which is further solidified by the colorful appearance.Ĭarnival Glass Collection from Pamscrafts7631 on Etsy The pressed iridescent glass was used as prizes for various carnival events. After marking down prices, Fenton was able to further increase popularity through fairs and carnivals. Fenton pressed the glass rather than blowing it, which allowed for mass production and much lower expenses.įenton was not able to sell this pressed imitation glass for as much as Tiffany sold their pieces, but when Fenton brought the prices down, it quickly became a middle-class favorite. Carnival glass was produced by the Fenton Glass Art Company as an imitation of Tiffany glass. These pieces were quite popular because of their beauty but were more expensive than the middle class could afford. ![]() During this time, a company called Tiffany and Steuben was producing blown glass art with an iridescent finish. Carnival glass was most popular during the 1920s, right before the Great Depression. What Is Carnival Glass?Ĭarnival glass gets its name from both its appearance and its history. Recently produced “depression glass” is not actually depression glass, but to an untrained eye, it will look the same. You can even buy depression-style pieces on Amazon. However, for people that love the look of colored glass but do not care about the historical significance, depression-style glass is produced today. The pieces that were produced in the 1920s-40s can be quite valuable. ( Source)Īlthough the coloring additives and mass production often resulted in small flaws throughout the pieces, depression glass is still considered a popular collectible item. Candlesticks, plates, serving dishes, ashtrays, and more items are made out of depression glass. Different additives could change the glass from clear to pink, green, amber, or white. Of course, people could also purchase straight from the manufacturer to get a matching set or a specific piece they wanted.ĭepression glass was produced in a variety of different colors and patterns. Since the production was so cheap, many businesses used glassware as a way to sweeten deals and win customers. Full sets often were given away with the purchase of large appliances like a fridge, and individual pieces were given away to customers buying necessities like gas or groceries. These pieces were sold for around 25 cents or were given away as a part of promotions. Depression glass filled the homes of honest, hardworking people who were looking for ways to maintain a sense of normalcy and celebration despite the changing circumstances. ![]() The rest of the population fueled these sales because they were able to get a taste of the finer things in life without the high price tag. Producing depression glass pieces saved a lot of manufacturing business as they were able to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase sales. It could be produced in a variety of translucent colors, or be left clear and “crystal”. The production of pressed glassware was much faster and cheaper than crystal or porcelain. They couldn’t buy the crystal that they might have wanted to, but they could buy imitation glass. Now more than ever, people were striving for some sort of normalcy. Those factories wanted to stay in business and employ as many people as possible through such a difficult time, so they had to adjust their inventory.Īlthough times were tough and it was a struggle to make ends meet, people still sought after the feel of luxury. Manufacturers were suddenly faced with the dilemma of nobody buying their products anymore. When the Great Depression hit, the population of people who could afford luxuries like crystal and porcelain was severely diminished. From left to right: a pink depression glass pitcher, an amber carnival glass tumbler, and a uranium glass vase What Is Depression Glass?
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