Have you ever wondered if that pretty glass vase at your grandma’s house might be worth something? I’m talking about Fenton glassware, those beautiful colored glass pieces that seem to glow when light hits them. You might have seen them at estate sales or antique shops without realizing what they were.
I’ve been collecting vintage glass for years, and let me tell you, Fenton pieces are some of the most sought after items out there. Not every piece is valuable, but some rare ones can fetch thousands of dollars. That’s why I put together this guide.
Whether you inherited some pieces or just love browsing flea markets, you’ll want to know which Fenton glass pieces are worth money. Let’s dive into what makes these beautiful pieces so special and valuable.
Table of Contents
What Makes Fenton Glass Special: A Quick History
Fenton Art Glass Company started in 1905 when brothers Frank and John Fenton decided to make their own glass instead of just decorating other companies’ pieces. They set up shop in Williamstown, West Virginia, where they created some of the most beautiful handmade glass in America.
What really set Fenton apart was their innovative techniques and colors. They introduced carnival glass in 1907, which became their signature style. You know those iridescent pieces that shimmer with rainbow colors? That’s carnival glass, and Fenton made some of the best.
The company kept making glass for over 100 years before closing in 2011. During that time, they created thousands of different patterns and colors. Today, collectors go crazy for certain pieces, especially the rare colors and limited editions.
Fun Fact: Fenton workers hand signed pieces starting in the 1970s, making those pieces extra special to collectors today!
Is Vintage Fenton Glass Worth Collecting? Here’s Why
You bet vintage Fenton glass is worth money! But here’s the thing: not all Fenton glass is created equal. Some pieces sell for $20, while others can bring in $2,000 or more. The key is knowing what to look for.
Rarity drives value in the Fenton world. Limited production pieces, unusual colors, and special patterns are what collectors want. For example, a common hobnail milk glass vase might sell for $30, but a rare red carnival glass piece from the 1920s could be worth hundreds.
The condition matters too. Perfect pieces without chips or cracks command top dollar. Even a tiny chip can cut the value in half. That’s why serious collectors baby their Fenton glass like it’s made of, well, glass!
30+ Rarest And Most Valuable Fenton Glassware Worth Money
These are actual sold prices from recent auctions and sales, giving you a clear picture of what collectors are really paying for rare Fenton pieces. I’ve tracked down some of the most valuable pieces that have changed hands lately, and let me tell you, some of these prices will make your jaw drop.
1. 1920’s Fenton Freehand Mosaic Threaded Vase – $1,654.75
- Height: 7 inches
- Width: 5.5 inches
- Era: 1920-1929
- Key Features: Cobalt glass legs, multicolored threads spiraling around the vase
This stunner from the Art Deco era shows why early Fenton pieces command top dollar. The freehand mosaic technique was labor intensive and produced unique results every time. No two pieces are exactly alike, which drives collectors wild. The cobalt blue legs give it that extra pop that makes it display worthy.
2. Mountain Cherry Blossoms Blue Burmese Landscape Vase – $1,520
- Height: 8 inches
- Width: 5.5 inches
- Year: 2010
- Artist: Hand painted by D Robinson, signed by George Fenton
Here’s proof that newer Fenton can be just as valuable as vintage pieces. This Blue Burmese vase came from someone who spent a million bucks on QVC over 10 years. The mountain landscape with cherry blossoms is absolutely gorgeous, and you rarely see this one come up for sale.
3. Antique Honeysuckle Coin Dot Double Handled Vase – $1,150
- Height: 10.75 inches
- Pattern: Coin Dot
- Color: Honeysuckle (that gorgeous peachy pink)
- Special Features: Double handles, ruffled edge
The Coin Dot pattern is classic Fenton, but finding it in the rare Honeysuckle color? That’s like hitting the lottery. Those double handles make it even more special since they’re harder to produce without breaking.
4. Dave Fetty Turquoise Blue Pulled Feather Vase – $975.52
- Height: 10.25 inches
- Width: 6.25 inches
- Special Feature: Double opening (super rare!)
- Signed: Yes, by Dave Fetty himself
Dave Fetty pieces always bring good money, but this double opening design is something else. The turquoise blue with pulled feather pattern looks almost like ocean waves. Perfect condition pieces like this one are getting harder to find.
5. Burmese Linda Everson Rose Melon Vase – $899.99
- Size: 8 inches tall, 6 inches wide
- Year: 2003
- Artists: Don Fenton and Linda Everson
- Special: QVC exclusive, uranium glass (glows under black light!)
This collaboration piece between Don Fenton and Linda Everson was a QVC exclusive, making it tough to track down. The uranium content means it glows green under UV light, which collectors absolutely love.
6. GWTW Green Lamp with Rose Pattern – $595
- Height: 22 inches to top of shade
- Pattern: Rose
- Lighting Options: Three way (top only, bottom only, or both)
Gone With The Wind lamps are always popular, but finding one in perfect condition with all original parts? That’s getting rare. This green beauty offers three different lighting options, making it both collectible and functional.
7. Charleston Roses Melon Ruffle Vase – $650
- Height: 8.5 inches
- Year: 1940s
- Color: Blue on white milk glass
- Condition: Some wear but still commanded high price
Even with some wear and scrapes, this 1940s Charleston Roses vase pulled in $650. Shows you how much people want these older hand painted pieces.
8. Rare Plum Opalescent Hobnail Handkerchief Vase – $449.95
- Height: 8 inches
- Color: Plum opalescent
- Style: Handkerchief swung
- Condition: Mint
Plum opalescent is one of those colors that makes collectors go crazy. The handkerchief style with its organic, flowing shape combined with the hobnail pattern? Pure Fenton magic.
9. September Morn Nude Nymph Celeste Blue Lotus Bowl – $450
- Year: 1930s recreation for 90th anniversary
- Theme: Art Nouveau nude nymph
- Color: Celeste blue
- Pieces: 4 piece set
The September Morn pattern features a nude nymph, which was pretty risqué for its time. This 90th anniversary piece recreates the 1930s original, and collectors snap them up whenever they appear.
10. Royal Purple Hobnail Vase – $435
- Height: 10.5 inches
- Width: 6.5 inches
- Color: Royal purple/amethyst
- Era: Pre-1970s (unsigned)
This unsigned piece dates before Fenton started stamping their work in the 1970s. That deep royal purple color in the hobnail pattern? Absolutely stunning. No water stains or damage kept the price high.
11. 17-Inch Plum Opalescent Hobnail Swung Vase – $399.99
- Height: 17 inches (huge!)
- Style: Wide mouth swung vase
- Color: Cranberry/plum opalescent
The size alone makes this piece special. At 17 inches tall, it’s a real statement piece. Swung vases were made by swinging the hot glass to elongate it, and getting one this tall without defects is impressive.
12. Blue Opalescent 4-Horn Epergne – $365
- Height: 16.5 inches assembled
- Base diameter: 10 inches
- Maker: Fenton for L.G. Wright
- Era: 1940s
This collaboration between Fenton and L.G. Wright produced some beautiful pieces. Epergnes are centerpieces with multiple horns for flowers, and this blue opalescent beauty with its ribbed pattern is a showstopper.
13. Mulberry Wisteria Feather Vase Limited Edition – $299.99
- Number: 174 of 1750
- Year: 1997
- Height: 10.5 inches
- Artists: Dave Fenton, Thomas Fenton, S. Hopkins
Limited editions with multiple artist signatures always do well. The mulberry color with hand painted wisteria and butterflies makes this Showcase Dealer Exclusive a real prize.
14. Frank Workman “Wings” Vase – $299.99
- Limited Edition: #19 of 500
- Height: 10 inches
- Pattern: Blue and white speckled with pulled design
- Artist: Frank Workman
Frank Workman pieces are hot right now. This Wings vase with only 500 made shows his signature style. That low production number means you probably won’t see another one soon.
15. Blue Double Crimped Overlay Hobnail Vase – $350
- Year: 1962
- Style: Mid-century modern
- Feature: Double crimped edge
- Product Line: Colony
The double crimped edge takes serious skill to create. This 1962 piece from the Colony line shows Fenton’s mid-century modern side, which is having a real moment with collectors.
16. Yellowish Burmese Purple Slag Sample Vase – $320.89
- Type: Factory sample
- Date marked: 4-26-60
- Special feature: UV reactive
- Height: 4.25 inches
Factory samples are the holy grail for serious collectors. This one’s marked with the date and production notes. Plus it glows under black light thanks to uranium content. Sample pieces rarely hit the market.
17. Iridized Cranberry Opalescent Poppy Show Vase – $306.79
- Height: 12.5 inches
- Pattern: Poppy
- Finish: Iridized cranberry
- Era: 2000-2009
Show vases were Fenton’s premium pieces, meant to show off their best work. This cranberry poppy vase with its iridescent finish is a real beauty. Even with a small flaw, it brought over $300.
18. Purple Gold Trim Charleton Roses Vase – $274.95
- Height: 8 inches
- Width: 6 inches
- Features: Gold trim, opalescent finish
- Pattern: Hand painted roses
The Charleton decoration with gold trim was a premium finish. Purple glass with gold accents and hand painted roses? That’s about as fancy as Fenton gets.
19. Pink Rosalene Cherry Blossom Vase – $285
- Height: 8 inches
- Artist: D Frederick
- Color: Pink Rosalene
- Design: Cherry blossoms
Rosalene is Fenton’s special pink glass formula that has an almost ethereal quality. Add hand painted cherry blossoms by a known artist, and you’ve got a winner.
20. Gold Crest 4-Horned Epergne – $246
- Height: 18 inches
- Diameter: 11 inches
- Color: Rare gold crest
- Condition: Needs cleaning but still valuable
Even needing a good cleaning, this rare gold crest epergne brought serious money. That 18-inch height makes it a real centerpiece, and the gold crest edge is tough to find.
21. Topaz Opalescent Swan Vase with Black Crest – $299.99
- Height: 8 inches
- Width: 6.5 inches
- Feature: Iridized finish
- Number: 1533
Swan vases are always popular, but this topaz opalescent with black crest is something special. The seller mentioned photos don’t do it justice, which is often true with iridescent pieces.
22. Sea Mist Green Decanter by Shelley Fenton – $275
- Height: 11 inches
- Pattern: Rib optic
- Artist: Shelley Fenton
- Design: Hand painted flowers
Decanters signed by Fenton family members bring premium prices. This sea mist green with Shelley Fenton’s signature shows beautiful hand painted flowers over the ribbed optic pattern.
23. Black Amethyst Heavy Iris Carnival Vase – $272
- Height: 12.375 inches
- Pattern: Heavy Iris
- Special: Singleton Bailey production
- Finish: Bright carnival iridescence
Black amethyst carnival glass is seriously collectible. This Heavy Iris pattern piece was made for Singleton Bailey, and that bright iridescence over black glass is stunning.
24. Lime Green Hobnail 3-Horn Epergne – $290
- Width: 8.5 inches
- Height: 6.5 inches
- Era: 1960s
- Condition: Perfect
That lime green opalescent color from the 1960s is hard to find. Perfect condition with no chips or cracks helped this smaller epergne command nearly $300.
25. Frank Workman Large Blue Vase with Mica – $250
- Height: 10 inches
- Artist: Frank Workman
- Feature: Mica flakes in glass
- Style: Ruffled edge
Another Frank Workman piece showing his signature style. The mica flakes add sparkle and depth to the predominantly blue glass. That ruffled edge takes real skill to execute.
26. Aqua Carnival Hobnail 3-Horn Epergne – $225
- Diameter: 10 inches
- Height: Just under 10 inches
- Color: Aqua carnival
- Pattern: Hobnail
Aqua carnival over hobnail is a winning combination. This epergne in excellent condition shows why Fenton carnival glass remains so popular with collectors.
27. Louise Piper Pink Crest Roses Basket – $235.50
- Artist: Louise Piper
- Size: 8 inches wide, 7 inches high
- Design: Hand painted roses
- Style: Handled basket
Artist signed baskets are always in demand. Louise Piper’s hand painted roses on this pink crest basket show the quality that makes Fenton special.
28. Large Plum Opalescent Hobnail Basket – $250
- Length: 12.5 inches
- Height: 9.5 inches
- Year: 1940s
- Note: Book piece despite base chips
Even with three small chips on the base, this book piece (featured in “Fenton The Third 25 Years”) brought $250. Being documented in reference books adds serious value.
29. 2008 OOAK Vickie Curren Aubergine Vase – $224.50
- Height: 6.75 inches
- Artist: Vickie Curren
- Type: One of a kind
- Year: 2008
One of a kind pieces are exactly that. You’ll never find another. Vickie Curren’s work on this aubergine (deep purple) vase makes it a true collector’s piece.
30. Cranberry Opalescent Hobnail Fairy Lamp – $225
- Height: 7 inches
- Width: 5.75 inches
- Pieces: 3 piece set
- Era: Mid-20th century
Fairy lamps create a romantic glow, and this cranberry opalescent hobnail version is perfect. Three piece construction means all parts need to survive, making complete sets valuable.
31. Diamond Lace Emerald Green Crest Epergne – $221.25
- Height: 10.75 inches
- Width: 12 inches
- Pattern: Diamond Lace
- Condition: Few fleabites, water stains
Even with some condition issues, this emerald green crest epergne brought over $200. The Diamond Lace pattern in French opalescent with emerald crest is just too good to pass up.
What Makes Fenton Glass Valuable: The Inside Scoop
After looking at all these sales, you’re probably wondering what separates a $20 Fenton piece from a $2,000 one. Let me break it down for you based on what I’ve learned from years of collecting and watching the market.
Color is king in the Fenton world. Some colors are just way more valuable than others. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Color | Typical Value Range | Why It’s Valuable |
|---|---|---|
| Plum/Amethyst Opalescent | $300-$1,500 | Limited production, stunning visual effect |
| Red Carnival | $500-$2,000+ | Extremely rare, difficult to produce |
| Burmese (pink to yellow) | $400-$1,500 | Complex color technique, often uranium glass |
| Cobalt Blue | $200-$800 | Rich color, shows patterns beautifully |
| Emerald Green Crest | $150-$600 | Distinctive edge treatment |
| Topaz Opalescent | $250-$1,000 | Uncommon color, beautiful with light |
| Milk Glass | $20-$100 | Common but still collected |
| Clear Crystal | $15-$75 | Most common, lowest value |
Pattern matters too. The most valuable patterns include:
Coin Dot (especially in rare colors)
Heavy Iris
Poppy Show
Diamond Lace
September Morn (with the nude figure)
Size definitely affects price. Bigger pieces are usually worth more because they’re harder to make without flaws. A 17-inch swung vase takes serious skill compared to a 6-inch version. But tiny sample pieces can be super valuable too because they’re so rare.
Age plays a role, but not always how you’d think. Sure, pieces from the 1920s-1940s often bring big money. But modern limited editions from the 1990s-2000s can be just as valuable, especially artist-signed pieces or QVC exclusives.
Signatures add serious value. Here’s the hierarchy:
- Fenton family member signatures (Don, George, Shelley)
- Known artists (Frank Workman, Dave Fetty, Linda Everson)
- Any artist signature
- Unsigned pieces (still valuable if rare)
Special features that boost value:
- Uranium content (glows under UV light)
- Iridescent finishes
- Multiple artist signatures
- Limited edition numbers
- One of a kind pieces
- Factory samples
- Pieces featured in books
Condition is everything. A tiny chip can cut value in half. Water stains, cloudiness, or scratches all hurt value. But here’s the thing: if a piece is rare enough, collectors will overlook minor flaws. That plum opalescent basket with base chips still brought $250 because it’s a documented book piece.
What’s NOT particularly valuable:
- Common milk glass pieces from the 1950s-70s
- Unsigned hobnail in common colors
- Small bells or toothpick holders
- Damaged pieces in common patterns
- Recent gift shop pieces without signatures
The Bottom Line on Collecting Fenton Glass
Looking at these 31 valuable pieces, you can see why Fenton glass has such a devoted following. From that spectacular $1,654 mosaic vase from the 1920s to modern artist collaborations bringing hundreds of dollars, there’s something magical about handmade American art glass.
If you’ve got Fenton pieces sitting around, take a close look at them. Check for signatures, unusual colors, or special features. That vase gathering dust might be worth more than you think. Even if your pieces aren’t the rare ones fetching thousands, they’re still beautiful examples of American craftsmanship that lasted over 100 years.
Remember, the Fenton market is always changing. What’s hot today might cool off tomorrow, but quality pieces in rare colors with good provenance will always find buyers. Whether you’re buying or selling, condition matters, signatures add value, and rare colors rule the market. Happy hunting!
