How to Identify Carnival Glass
Carnival glass can be identified by a variety of methods. Some of the most seasoned collectors can even identify the manufacturer of a Carnival glass piece based on the unique motif or color scheme used. In the following video, Jennifer with City Farmhouse Antiques shares a few tips for identifying this decadent glassware.
Color
As noted above, the base glass used in Carnival pieces was manufactured using a wide variety of colors. The color of the base glass is typically determined by holding a selected piece against the light and inspecting an area where the iridized sheen was not applied. There are over fifty officially classified Carnival glass colors.
Such colors include (but are not limited):
- Amber
- Amberina
- Amethyst
- Aqua
- Black
- Blue/Cobalt
- Clambroth
- Green
- Marigold
- Peach opalescent
- Red
- Rootbeer
- Vaseline
- White
Such a vast array of colors could easily be attributed to the lack of quality control in factories, but may also very well be a result of the playful nature of design companies in experimenting with new shades.
Motifs & Patterns
Each company designed distinctive patterns and motifs, often taking inspiration from each other. Just as with Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glassware, naturalistic patterns featuring animals, plants, winged insects, flowers, and fruit were often employed as decorative motifs on Carnival glass pieces. Popular motifs included the “Grape and Cable” and the “Peacock at the Fountain” patterns. Another design style, known as “near-cut” focused on producing geometric patterns modeled after more expensive art glass pieces at a much lower cost. The following is a list of recurring motifs:
- Animals
- Hearts
- Florals – Roses, Petals, etc.
- Fruits — Grapes, Cherries, etc.
- Basketweave
- Swirls
- Peacocks
- Butterflies
- Stars
- Dots or Beads
I highly encourage you to explore David Doty’s Carnival Glass Website, which features an extensive list of recorded Carnival glass motifs and patterns
