Persian Medallion - a Fenton Masterpiece
Persian Medallion was a very popular design: it appears in Butler Brothers ads for Classic Carnival Glass from 1911 through to 1924. It was also a pattern that Fenton reissued after they started to make contemporary Carnival Glass after the 1970s. Persian Medallion is one of the patterns that was inspired by needlecraft, more about which can be read in our feature on Carnival Glass Inspired by Embroidery and Needlecraft. On the right, we see Persian Medallion first appearing in the Mid-Spring 1911 Butler Brothers catalogue. It was offered as two shapes of small bowl or sauce. There were other shapes elsewhere in the same catalogue – handled bonbon, card tray and nine inch bowl. A rosebowl was added to the range in 1912, and then a six inch plate was shown in 1917. In 1922, Persian Medallion appeared as the interior pattern on a ten inch Grape and Cable fruit bowl, and the same item was the last time we can find Persian Medallion recorded in Butler Brothers - in February 1924 (below right). The full range of shapes reported in Classic Persian Medallion are: berry / sauce bowl, bowls (2 sizes), comports (2 sizes), hair receiver, handled bonbon and card tray, plates (4 sizes), and rosebowl. It was also used as the interior pattern on footed Grape and Cable fruit bowls and Wreath of Roses punch sets. There are no known table sets or water sets which may be surprising given the popularity of this pattern. There is also an amazing number of different Carnival colours reported, twenty in all (although not all shapes have been found in all these colours). |
Butler Brothers, Mid-Spring 1911 catalogue.
The two dishes in the centre of the middle row are Persian Medallion. Butler Brothers, February 1924 catalogue.
Persian Medallion is the interior pattern on the fruit bowl, bottom row, centre. |
The Persian Medallion Revival
Many thanks to King Hoppel for allowing us to use his super pictures of his Contemporary Persian Medallion plates and bowls.
Many thanks to King Hoppel for allowing us to use his super pictures of his Contemporary Persian Medallion plates and bowls.
In the 1970s, Fenton re-introduced Carnival Glass into their contemporary product lines often using their original moulds, such as Persian Medallion. Through our research into the way Carnival Glass was promoted and sold, we found this offer. The offer was in 1971, proving that Persian Medallion was one of the first Fenton reissues in contemporary Carnival. The offer was from the Massillon Savings and Loan Company - a free gift of a Persian Medallion plate (like the one shown far right), with a deposit or savings account of US $200 or more. Who could resist! |
A FREE contemporary Persian Medallion plate!
Picture courtesy of King Hoppel |
Classic or Contemporary?
The contemporary Carnival was clearly marked, with a Fenton cartouche, logo, or italicised F moulded into the item - several examples are illustrated in Fenton Old and New. We also explain how Carnival Glass pioneer, Rose Presznick was influential in persuading Fenton to make such a clear distinction between their Classic Carnival Glass and the contemporary production.
From discussions with the glass chemists at Fenton, we know that the contemporary Carnival Glass was iridised with sprays that had different chemical formulations to those used originally, which gives contemporary Carnival a different look to much of the Classic pieces. The original sprays were far more toxic and would not pass today's environmental standards!
The contemporary Carnival was clearly marked, with a Fenton cartouche, logo, or italicised F moulded into the item - several examples are illustrated in Fenton Old and New. We also explain how Carnival Glass pioneer, Rose Presznick was influential in persuading Fenton to make such a clear distinction between their Classic Carnival Glass and the contemporary production.
From discussions with the glass chemists at Fenton, we know that the contemporary Carnival Glass was iridised with sprays that had different chemical formulations to those used originally, which gives contemporary Carnival a different look to much of the Classic pieces. The original sprays were far more toxic and would not pass today's environmental standards!
Look at the back!
The clearest way to identify contemporary Fenton is to look for their moulded trademark; mostly they are easy to spot, although sometimes they can get lost in a pattern, or be lightly moulded.
The other main difference is that the contemporary Persian Medallion 9 inch plates have Bearded Berry as an exterior pattern. Although Bearded Berry was a Classic exterior pattern used by Fenton, it was generally not used on the Classic Persian Medallion plates: usually, they had plain exteriors. However, a few, very rare examples of the Classic Persian Medallion plate have been reported with Bearded Berry exteriors. If you have an example, please send us a photo so that we can feature it. For a final check, on the plates, note that the edge on the Classic examples also has a gentle scalloped effect.
There are two versions of Bearded Berry on Fenton's contemporary Persian Medallion, as shown below. One, on the left, has a plain area all around the Bearded Berry pattern. Note the Fenton logo in the centre of the marie, and note also the three mould seams. The Bearded Berry pattern on the right was embellished by the addition of a "scale filler" type pattern: not only does it enhance the iridescent effect, but it also very effectively hides the mould seams.
The clearest way to identify contemporary Fenton is to look for their moulded trademark; mostly they are easy to spot, although sometimes they can get lost in a pattern, or be lightly moulded.
The other main difference is that the contemporary Persian Medallion 9 inch plates have Bearded Berry as an exterior pattern. Although Bearded Berry was a Classic exterior pattern used by Fenton, it was generally not used on the Classic Persian Medallion plates: usually, they had plain exteriors. However, a few, very rare examples of the Classic Persian Medallion plate have been reported with Bearded Berry exteriors. If you have an example, please send us a photo so that we can feature it. For a final check, on the plates, note that the edge on the Classic examples also has a gentle scalloped effect.
There are two versions of Bearded Berry on Fenton's contemporary Persian Medallion, as shown below. One, on the left, has a plain area all around the Bearded Berry pattern. Note the Fenton logo in the centre of the marie, and note also the three mould seams. The Bearded Berry pattern on the right was embellished by the addition of a "scale filler" type pattern: not only does it enhance the iridescent effect, but it also very effectively hides the mould seams.
Shown below are more of Fenton's contemporary Carnival Glass items.
Whilst the contemporary production included shapes that had been made in Classic Carnival, such as plates and bowls, there were also entirely new shapes and new colours being made: goblets, handled baskets, spittoons and a three-piece fairy lamp. The one shown below is in french opal, with a pale pink centre section sitting on a pink/opal-edged base.
Shown below are more of Fenton's contemporary Carnival Glass items.
Whilst the contemporary production included shapes that had been made in Classic Carnival, such as plates and bowls, there were also entirely new shapes and new colours being made: goblets, handled baskets, spittoons and a three-piece fairy lamp. The one shown below is in french opal, with a pale pink centre section sitting on a pink/opal-edged base.
Read about other contemporary Carnival Glass revivals - click on the images below.