Fenton Revival Amethyst Carnival Glass
Amethyst (and purple) were popular choices as base colours for makers of Classic Carnival Glass, including Fenton. So, it is not surprising that when Fenton reintroduced Carnival into the line with their production of Revival Carnival, they re-created the dramatic effect of iridescence on amethyst coloured glass.
On this page we have examples in catalogues from 2002 - 2008.
In 2002, Fenton's General Catalogue included this wonderful selection. As you can see, Fenton made a clear reference to the craftmanship of the past, and the process that was used to make their old Classic Carnival Glass, whilst at the same time praising the revival - with a twist - of these old processes. CN is the Fenton colour code for amethyst Carnival, and CQ shows that it was also decorated.
On this page we have examples in catalogues from 2002 - 2008.
In 2002, Fenton's General Catalogue included this wonderful selection. As you can see, Fenton made a clear reference to the craftmanship of the past, and the process that was used to make their old Classic Carnival Glass, whilst at the same time praising the revival - with a twist - of these old processes. CN is the Fenton colour code for amethyst Carnival, and CQ shows that it was also decorated.
Catalogue image is courtesy of the Glass Paper Fanatics.
Note the decanter that was prominently displayed in the centre of the page: #5908 Decanter Set, Grape 12". It was not only a revival of a Classic colour (amethyst), it was also a revival of a Classic pattern - the Classic version was made by Dugan-Diamond, and called Golden Harvest by collectors.
The mould was owned (and used for Classic Carnival) by Dugan-Diamond, before being bought by L.G.Wright. Wright had the decanter and accompanying wines made for them in 1978 (they did not make their own glass, but jobbed it out to glassmakers, primarily Westmoreland). It was made in purple and marigold.
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Below: In 2008, Fenton offered this decanter in a Gift Shop Exclusive, made in a colour they called "Autumn Gold". The text explained how the mould came to be owned by Fenton. It was also made in the 2000s in red Carnival. Fenton's production should have a Fenton "F" mark.
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Above: the mould for the decanter, pictured at Fenton (for their auction sale). Pictures (left and above) courtesy of the Fenton Family
and Fenton Art Glass Company. |
Also shown on the catalogue page above is #1964 Thistle. This also has a fascinating history! It was originally a Higbee pattern, but the mould used for the piece shown here is a reproduction of the original - it was made by Island Mould Company for L.G Wright and it even had a trademark bee added, supposedly to give a representational link with the old Higbee pattern. As with Golden Harvest, aka Grape, the mould was acquired from Wright by Fenton - presumably Fenton removed the bee mark and added their own mark in its place.
In 2004, Fenton introduced this limited range of items in Amethyst Carnival. This catalogue page was provided to us by, and is shown here courtesy of the Fenton Family and Fenton Art Glass Company. The reference to the techniques and processes used for making their Classic Carnival is repeated.
There is an interesting reference in the text to "Six unique moulds (some from Fostoria and others from Imperial or Indiana)". The Cornucopia Vase (#8395) came from Fostoria; the Pie Wagon (#4204) came from Imperial via Indiana; the Tulip Vase (#2856) came from McKee via Indiana; the Candy Box (#4108) came from Indiana.
Here are some of the patterns shown in the catalogue. All the mould pictures are courtesy of the Fenton Family and Fenton Art Glass Company.
Apple Tree (#6555) - only made as a water set (pitcher and tumblers), this is a Classic (old) Carnival pattern that Fenton made over a lengthy period, from around 1912 though to 1929 (or possibly later). It was revived for Contemporary Carnival production, although it is not certain if the Revival pieces came from the original mould or whether a new mould was made.
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Below is the mould that was used to make the pitcher. It was blow moulded. Note that the top of the pitcher, as it came out of the mould, was vertical. The tight ruffling seen on the finished piece (shown right) was done by hand after the piece was taken from the mould. Note also that the handle was applied - it is not part of the mould. 
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An amethyst Contemporary Apple Tree water set.
Courtesy of Seeck Auctions. |
Pie Wagon, Reber & Co. (#4204) - actually, it is a box, made in two pieces (the top of the wagon is the box lid). The mould was owned by Imperial, and the Pie Wagon is known marked ALIG and with an Imperial label. The mould subsequently moved to Indiana Glass as the Pie Wagon was made as a Tiara Exclusive. The mould was later acquired by Fenton as part of a large purchase of moulds from Indiana.
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Tulip Vase (#2856) - this vase pattern has a fascinating and much-travelled history which started in England and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s, journeyed through McKee and Indiana Glass and found its way to Fenton! The full Story Behind the Glass is told here in our (free): Network ezine #45.
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Candy Box (#4108): according to Fenton's records, the moulds for this 6-sided Candy Box and Cover were acquired from Indiana Glass. In turn, Indiana are known to have acquired moulds from other glass companies over the years. As far as we know, this covered candy was not made in Carnival prior to Fenton.
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Here are the two moulds - on the left is the Candy Box, and above is the cover and finial (it was pressed upside down). |
See more Fenton Revival Carnival catalogues, ads and related pattern information.
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We have many more Fenton Revival Carnival Glass catalogues and ads, covering the period from the 1970s through to their closure in 2011. They are all accessed from our Fenton Revival Homepage. Click on the image on the left, or go here: Fenton Revival Carnival |