The Fenton Art Glass Company is a company with over 100 years of history behind it and is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. Finding a Fenton designer item in an antique shop or online auction can be exciting, but it's not always easy to tell if it's an authentic product. Learn to recognize the signs that characterize the real Fenton to distinguish them from the fakes!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Identify the Fenton Signs of Recognition
Step 1. Check that there is a sticker on the bottom of the piece
Before 1970, Fenton glasses featured oval stickers. Many of these have been lost or removed over time, but some are still intact and present. They are generally applied to the bottom of the glass.
The sticker could be a metallic oval with scalloped or smooth edges
Step 2. Check for an oval logo on parts manufactured from 1970 onwards
The first Fenton logo printed on the glass was the word Fenton inside an oval. It can be found on pieces produced since the 1970s including vases, plates and decorative items.
- This logo was added to the hobnail glass pieces, which feature a design with an all-round pattern of raised dots forming an irregular texture, beginning in 1972-1973.
- Some characteristic Fenton marks are hidden during the finishing treatments. If a mark isn't immediately visible, take a closer look at the object to find an oval with light, raised edges.
Step 3. Verify that there is a small number in the oval to indicate the year of manufacture
In the 1980s, Fenton added a number 8 to the logo to indicate the decade of manufacture. It used the number 9 in the 90s and 0 from the 2000s to today. These are small and often difficult to notice numbers.
Step 4. Take a good look at the piece to see if there is an italicized letter F inside an oval
If the piece bears it, it indicates that the glass mold was originally owned by another company before Fenton, and that Fenton bought it later. This sign of recognition has been used since 1983.
Step 5. Check for a star or flame
If you notice a flame similar to the letter S, a complete star or the outline of a star anywhere on the object, this could indicate that the piece has been remade or that some defect was found while it was still in production. These pieces can still be collected.
Beginning in 1998, a capital letter F is used to indicate second quality pieces
Method 2 of 2: Recognizing Pieces without Characteristic Marks
Step 1. Check if there is a bridge on the bottom of the glass, which the Fenton pieces do not have
Some glassmakers use pointed sticks to hold the piece of glass during processing. Once removed, it leaves a mark called a pontoon. Fenton uses snap rings, so most of his pieces don't have a prop.
- Bridges can be confused with chips, a bubble or a dimple in the bottom of the glass.
- Fenton has created pieces characterized by the presence of a bridge. These include extremely rare pieces from the 1920s and some contemporary hand-made blown glass collections.
Step 2. Purchase a collector's book or consult a Fenton glassworks catalog
Look at the pictures in the books to familiarize yourself with the Fenton style. By studying these images, you will be able to recognize Fenton pieces from those of other brands.
For example, if you find a carnival glass plate with a peacock, you can recognize a Fenton piece from that of another manufacturer of the same period by the fact that the peacock's neck, in the Fenton, is completely straight while, in the other brands, it is slightly curved
Step 3. Pay close attention to the bases and edges of the Fenton glass
The base is characterized by a flat and rounded surface or it could have round or spatula feet. Edges are often smooth, curled or puckered and are one of the brand's most emblematic features.
- Fenton mainly produced carnival glass characterized by an iridescent sheen, although some pieces are opalescent and translucent glass.
- Fenton also specializes in a glass shape known as a "hobnail", featuring raised dot motifs.
Step 4. Check for bubbles or blemishes in the glass, which a Fenton piece shouldn't have
Fenton glass is of the highest quality and must be free of bubbles and defects. If your piece has manufacturing defects, it is likely not a genuine Fenton.
Step 5. Contact a Fenton dealer or antiques expert if you have any further questions
Due to some similarities between brands, it may be difficult to recognize the authenticity of some pieces. If you are unable to examine your piece, seek out a Fenton dealer or an antiques expert in your area who specializes in Fenton glass.
