Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 in Williamstown West Virginia. It has been a family operation for most of that time. They are just one of many art glass companies that came into being during this time period both in West Virginia and in Ohio. In spite of efforts to keep the factory open, they ceased operation in 2011 and the old factory is slated for demolition.
However, Fenton Glass is still being made from Fenton molds in an Ohio factory and it is then sent to the Fenton Gift Store where the hand decorating is applied. You can still purchase limited edition and one of a kind items.
What Fenton is known for is the hands-on nature of their product. The glass is hand blown and the products are hand painted and signed. Unfortunately, the hand signing didn't always happen. Today Fenton pieces are imprinted with their logo and hand signed. For a period they had paper stickers which if the pieces were used and washed naturally disappeared. In the early days neither method was used so how do you know if you have an authentic piece of Fenton Art Glass?
The saying "Knowledge is power" holds true for Fenton collectors. You need to immerse yourself in Fenton. There are several books that document all the known patterns, styles and colors. Not only do you need to read these books multiple times, you need to visit antique stores. Learn to know all the patterns and styles that may be unique to Fenton. You want to be very familiar with the real Fenton colors so that if you see a reproduction or a newer version of an old design you will recognize it right away. Go to an antique mall and hold some Fenton in your hand so that you know what the weight feels like. The real hand blown Fenton will be lighter than cheaper pressed imitations.
With over 100 years of styles and patterns, there are a lot of pieces to get to know. Chances are that you will never be an expert on all types of Fenton but you can develop an eye that will recognize and identify certain types of Fenton. If you like mini vases, they have a wide variety that comes in a slew of colors and neck styles. Learn to recognize the Fenton hobnail shape. They have some handles on their baskets that are unique and they are known for the gorgeous designs of their lamps.
Identifying Fenton can be tricky but some of their pieces have never been reproduced or copied and these will be easy to recognize and identify.
