| The Fenton art glass
company is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in
the United States and it celebrated its centenary in 2005.
The company began by painting decorations on glass blanks made
by other glass manufacturers. but soon had to manufacture their
own glass as they were unable to get the glass they needed.
A brief chronological history of Fenton art glass
 On
January 2nd 1907, the first glass was produce by the Fenton
factory in Williamstown, West Virginia and Frank L. Fenton's desire
to develop new and unusual colors helped to keep Fenton at the forefront
of the handmade art glass industry for decades to come.
From 1905 to the 1920's, Fenton art
glass design was heavily influenced by the artists at Tiffany
and Steuben.
In late 1907, Fenton introduced Iridescent
glass and this glass, now known as carnival glass, is a very popular
collectible glass today.
During the 1930's, Fenton produced
practical items, such as mixing bowls and tableware to get through
the depression and WWII shortages. They also continued working on
developing a wide array of new colors.
In 1933 Fenton began its line of
mixing bowls and reamers for the Doromeyer Company to sell with
its electric egg beaters. The Doromeyer account kept Fenton from
folding during the depression.
A cologne bottle, a copy of the old Hobnail pattern they tried
in the late 1930s, pulled the Fenton Art Glass Company from the
depths of the depression and into economic renewal.
In 1936 LG Wright, a jobber based
in New Martinsville, West Virginia, (who used Fenton to make glass
from molds he bought from folding companies), brought in a mold
of an old Hobb's Company Barber Bottle, hoping that Fenton could
make a reproduction of it for his wholesale business. Fate intervened
and a buyer for Wrisley Cologne saw the finished bottle and asked
if it could be mass produced.
The original bottle was too expensive to produce but small changes
to cut costs produced the No.289 bottle. The bottles were shipped
to Wrisley, who test marketed them in 1938. The results surprised
both Fenton and Wristley.
The No.289 bottle sold better than
they could ever have imagined and Fenton struggled to keep up with
demand. Having secured the Wristley and Doromeyer accounts Fenton
prospered once again.
In 1939 after seeing the success
of the hobnail cologne bottle, Fenton began a complete line . The
hobnail line has become a company top seller ever since, by far
outlasting the Wrisley defection to a machine made Milk Glass bottle
in the early 1940s.
In the late 1940's the top three
members of the Fenton management team died, leaving Frank M. Fenton,
age 33, and Wilmer C. (Bill) Fenton, age 25, to step in and take
over as President and Vice President.
In spite of other glass factories closing at a rapid rate, Frank
and Bill led the Fenton factory through significant American growth
for the next 30 years.
In 1986, the leadership of the company
passed to a third generation, with George W. Fenton, taking over
as President.
Today nine Fenton family members
work together along with over 400 employees to create handmade art
glass that is loved by collectors around the world and Fenton glass
is still renowned for its beautiful colors and patterns and every
glass object is an individual piece of light and colour created
by master glassworkers and skilled decorators.
Looking for Fenton Art Glass to Collect then check out our Fenton
Glass for sale.
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| Fenton Favrene Glass
Vase |
Fenton Orange
Tree Tankard |
Fenton 8" Lime
Green Opalescent Coin Dot Vase. Made from 1953 - 1954 |
Fenmton Persian
Medallion Carnival Glass Bowl |
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