Fenton Art Glass Co. (United States) glass

Fenton Art Glass Co. was an American glass manufacturer founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John W. Fenton in Williamstown, West Virginia. The company was known for producing high-quality handcrafted glassware, including vases, bowls, lamps, and figurines.

In its early years, Fenton produced a range of glass items, including iridescent glass, carnival glass, and opalescent glass. However, the company became best known for its innovative use of color in glass, particularly its signature "milk glass" or opaque glass, which was produced in a variety of hues.

Over the years, Fenton Art Glass Co. faced challenges from changing consumer tastes and economic pressures. In the 1930s, the company shifted its focus to producing more affordable glassware, including depression glass, which was mass-produced and sold at a lower price point.

Despite these challenges, Fenton Art Glass Co. remained a beloved brand for collectors and glass enthusiasts. more... The company continued to innovate with new designs and techniques, and its pieces were highly prized for their beauty and craftsmanship.

In 2011, Fenton Art Glass Co. closed its doors due to financial difficulties, marking the end of an era in American glassmaking. However, the company's legacy lives on, and its pieces continue to be highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

Fenton Art Glass was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton. They began their business In Martins Ferry, Ohio, by painting decorations on glassware made by nearby manufacturers. Prompted in part by the desire to work with a broader range of colours, the brothers soon decided to produce their own glass, and opened the Fenton Art Glass factory in Williamstown, West Virginia in 1907. Fenton introduced "iridescent ware" later that same year. Now known as "Carnival" glass, it remains a popular collectible item today.

Frank L. Fenton's love of color and his admiration for glass artisans like those at Tiffany and Steuben helped keep Fenton Art Glass in the forefront of the handmade art glass industry for the next few decades, but during the Depression Era and the early years of World War II, Fenton also produced practical items such as mixing bowls and perfume bottles.

In its early years, Fenton produced a range of glass items, including iridescent glass, carnival glass, and opalescent glass. However, the company became best known for its innovative use of colour in glass, particularly its signature "milk glass" or opaque glass, which was produced in a variety of hues.

Over the years, Fenton Art Glass Co. faced challenges from changing consumer tastes and economic pressures. In the 1930s, the company shifted its focus to producing more affordable glassware, including depression glass, which was mass-produced and sold at a lower price point.

By the late 1940s, a new generation of Fentons was running the company. Brothers Frank M. and Wilmer C. (Bill) Fenton would lead the Fenton factory through significant growth for the next 30 years. In 1986, George W. Fenton, Frank's son and a third-generation family member, became president of the company.

Traditional glassmaking ceased in 2011 and the Fenton Art Glass Company property was sold in 2017. Fenton Art Glass Company was the largest manufacturer of handmade coloured glass in the United States and was among the foremost glass manufacturers in the world.

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