Trademarks and Makers Marks on Classic Carnival around the World
Makers marks or trademarks are not often seen on Classic (old) Carnival Glass made in the United States, with the exception of the well-known N mark on many Northwood items. Look deeper though, and you might be surprised at just how many different marks on old Carnival there were all around the World.
First, let’s consider the USA makers that didn’t trademark their old Classic Carnival - Fenton, Millersburg and Westmoreland.
Fenton: Fenton did not “sign” or trademarked their Classic Carnival. Any Fenton Carnival with the word Fenton on it, or the cursive F, will be from the Revival years (c. 1970s to mid-2000s). We have a full feature called “Fenton Old and New” that details the trademarks used by Fenton on Carnival from the 1970s onward. Here is the link: Fenton Old and New
Millersburg: Millersburg did not “sign” or trademark their Carnival. The company ceased production in 1911.
Westmoreland: Westmoreland did not “sign” or trademark their Classic Carnival Glass. Their Revival Carnival production from 1970s on, however, was often trademarked with their WG or the word WESTMORELAND. (These later marks can also be seen on glass made by others when they were left on moulds that were subsequently sold.)
First, let’s consider the USA makers that didn’t trademark their old Classic Carnival - Fenton, Millersburg and Westmoreland.
Fenton: Fenton did not “sign” or trademarked their Classic Carnival. Any Fenton Carnival with the word Fenton on it, or the cursive F, will be from the Revival years (c. 1970s to mid-2000s). We have a full feature called “Fenton Old and New” that details the trademarks used by Fenton on Carnival from the 1970s onward. Here is the link: Fenton Old and New
Millersburg: Millersburg did not “sign” or trademark their Carnival. The company ceased production in 1911.
Westmoreland: Westmoreland did not “sign” or trademark their Classic Carnival Glass. Their Revival Carnival production from 1970s on, however, was often trademarked with their WG or the word WESTMORELAND. (These later marks can also be seen on glass made by others when they were left on moulds that were subsequently sold.)
Classic USA Carnival that was trademarked
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Northwood Harry Northwood was an artist as well as a highly talented glass maker – you can see his splendid signature under his photo on the left. There’s no doubt Harry was proud of his creations, and his actual signature appeared moulded on some of his early glass (not Carnival) – more of this below. Northwood signed a lot of their Carnival Glass, using a moulded letter N underlined, in a circle. Sometimes that N mark is lightly moulded, which might give the impression that it is not underlined or in a circle – but look carefully. Not all Northwood Carnival was marked, so don’t be surprised if you can’t find a mark. |
Northwood N trademark
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Above on the right is a genuine Northwood N trademark. They are often placed predominantly (but not exclusively) on the inside of Northwood pieces.
It even appears right in the centre of Northwood’s Grape Leaves bowl – unmissable and clearly a mark of pride.
Above on the right is a genuine Northwood N trademark. They are often placed predominantly (but not exclusively) on the inside of Northwood pieces.
It even appears right in the centre of Northwood’s Grape Leaves bowl – unmissable and clearly a mark of pride.
Northwood’s Grape Leaves bowl, courtesy Burns Auctions.
The Northwood N mark can be seen right in the centre. |
Detail drawing of the pattern on the Northwood Grape Leaves bowl by Glen Thistlewood. Northwood’s N mark was undoubtedly designed
to be part of the pattern. |
It is important to note that there have been versions of the famous Northwood N mark used by other makers, and these have misled collectors in the past.
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On the immediate right is a sketch of the so-called “wonky” N mark. This was used in the recent Revival era (c. 1970s) on some items made for L G Wright. Another version of what is often called a “fake” Northwood mark has a partial circle (which is not fully complete) around the N – shown in the sketch on the far right. They are sometimes found on some pastel Grape Delight nut bowls or on Grape and Cable butters, which were made by Mosser c. 1970s. Some Northwood pieces (usually bowls) have been faked in the Far East – Grape and Cable, Good Luck and Peacocks have all been found with fake N marks. These are usually a heavy, thick N with no circle and no underlining. There are other ways of identifying these fakes which we explain in detail here: Northwood Fakes |
The "wonky" N mark
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A "fake" N mark
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A Northwood script signature can be seen on some Carnival Glass – yet curiously, neither is old Classic Northwood. The first appears on rare examples of the Dugan Nautilus (see below for details and photos). The second (and different version, shown on the right) appears on Revival Carnival made in the 1990s by Fenton for the New Northwood Art Glass Co. Dugan-Diamond Let’s start with a curious anomaly that links Northwood with Dugan. |
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Northwood made the Nautilus shape – but crucially not in Carnival. Later, the Northwood moulds went to his cousin, Tom Dugan, who created it in Carnival Glass – and just a few of those pieces still bore the Northwood script trademark until Dugan removed it from the mould. Here, courtesy and copyright Jeremy Webster, are images of that wonderful Dugan piece with the Northwood trademark.
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Left: the Dugan Nautilus – the Northwood trademark is on the base.
Centre: the domed base of the Dugan Nautilus with the Northwood moulded script signature just visible. Right : a close-up of the Northwood moulded script signature on Dugan’s Nautilus. All pictures are courtesy and copyright Jeremy Webster. |
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Dugan themselves did not usually mark their Carnival Glass, although some of their non-Carnival did bear their Diamond D mark. Curiously, one item in Carnival does feature this unique mark – the white Wreathed Cherry butter dish base!
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Imperial
The greater part of Imperial Carnival was not trademarked - however, some notable marks are known. They used the "Iron Cross" mark on a small number of Carnival Glass patterns, from c. 1917. Imperial also marked some, but not all Homestead and Chrysanthemum plates "NUART". Also used, was the similar "NUCUT" mark. 
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Unusually, all three of Imperial's trade marks (as illustrated on the front of one of their catalogues, left) are perfectly replicated on a piece of their Carnival Glass. Picture courtesy of Seeck Auctions.
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The three Imperial marks shown above are on a spectacular Imperial Paperweight. Here is more about this piece: Imperial Paperweight.
On some of their Frosted Block items, Imperial used the moulded mark MADE IN U.S.A.
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Cambridge Cambridge used the words “NEAR CUT” on some of their intaglio “cut” designs, such as Inverted Strawberry, Inverted Feather and Inverted Thistle. The picture below is the inside of a purple Inverted Thistle tumbler. 
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United States Glass Co. The United States Glass trademark - U over the letter S - is a rare find on their Carnival, and we were delighted to show Greg Dilian’s picture (below) of such a mark on his marigold Sheraton sugar*. Greg also has a U.S. Glass Athenia toothpick holder with the same trademark. 
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* We have a features on U.S. Glass' Athenia and Sheraton patterns, here:
NetworK #73 Athenia (scroll down the page), and Collectors Facts: Sheraton
NetworK #73 Athenia (scroll down the page), and Collectors Facts: Sheraton
Heisey
Some Heisey glass is found with their trademark H inside a diamond. But, Heisey did not make Carnival Glass. Some of their glass is known with light iridescence, however it was not iridised by Heisey during production, but instead was cold iridised afterwards by individuals such as Sara Comer, or was water-ambered at one of the springs such as Marlin or Stephens.
We have more information about this here - Heisey Glass and the "Fairy Wand" of Sara Comer - and also here - Water Ambered Glass
Heisey
Some Heisey glass is found with their trademark H inside a diamond. But, Heisey did not make Carnival Glass. Some of their glass is known with light iridescence, however it was not iridised by Heisey during production, but instead was cold iridised afterwards by individuals such as Sara Comer, or was water-ambered at one of the springs such as Marlin or Stephens.
We have more information about this here - Heisey Glass and the "Fairy Wand" of Sara Comer - and also here - Water Ambered Glass
Old Carnival Glass from Europe, Australia, South America and India can also be found with a variety of fascinating trademarks.
Australia - Crown Crystal marked some pieces with a Registered Number.
Czechoslovakia – some, rare pieces are marked “TCHECOSLOVAQUIE”, or “CZECHOSLOVAKIA”. Some pieces have a British Registered Number (which was in order to gain better acceptance in the British market).
England – Sowerby used a moulded peacock’s head.
Finland – a few, rare pieces are marked “Riihimaki”, “Karhula”,"Iittala" and "KAUKLAHTI". There is a very rare item of Riihimaki Carnival that is marked with their trademark lynx (snow leopard) design.
India – some pieces are marked “Jain”, “AVM”, “PGW” (for Paliwal Glass Works), or “CB”, and others.
Norway - a newly discovered maker marked Carnival "HØVIK".
South America – some pieces are marked “Esberard”, “Cristalerias Rigolleau” and “Industria Argentina PAPINI” (Cristalerias Papini).
Sweden – a few, rare pieces are marked “Eda”
Also, we have seen, or know of paper labels that were used on old Carnival Glass by makers Riihimaki and Elme, and by a sales brand "Coronet".
Our Gallery below shows a wide selection of Classic Carnival makers' marks from around the world.
A Gallery of Makers Marks and Labels on Classic Carnival from all around the World - click on any image to see it full size.
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* Courtesy of John & Frances Hodgson.
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*2 Courtesy of Joe Dragone.
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*3 Courtesy of Marty Hoenig.
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Revival / Contemporary Carnival is another matter! Virtually all modern Fenton (by name) and Imperial (by initials IG, LIG or ALIG) Carnival Glass is marked. The situation is more complicated with regard to other contemporary makers, particularly as moulds moved from one glassmaker to another when businesses closed and assets were sold. In general, Contemporary Carnival has more “marks” and “signatures” than old, Classic Carnival
Warning - often older makers marks (such as those from Westmoreland) can be found on newer Carnival pieces and there is the problem of fakes - see our Myth Buster on Reissues, Reproductions and Fakes.