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.
Made as both functional and ornamental objects and found in a wide array of colors, carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass, often called dope glass by glass factory workers because of the process of applying the iridescent coloring, which is known as doping. Its production can be traced back to as early as 1907, with many, many different pieces in over 150 distinct patterns. It did not, however, command the expected prices, and was subsequently discounted heavily.
This glass is available in many translucent colors like primarily amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green and red. It is also made in opaque white which is also referred to as milk glass. This glass was also available in semi-transparent or translucent pale green and was named as Vaseline or uranium glass before the harmful effects of radiation were known. Vaseline glass and uranium glass have small amount of uranium salts which make faint green glass glow on reaction with UV light.
Among the greatest producers of this type of glass was Millersburg glass Company in Ohio. The first glass products by that company were crystal however the Millersburg plant decided to follow success for iridescent glassware. So in the beginning of 1910 the Millersburg Company started its line of Radium glasswares
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, a very 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 the carnival 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.