Carnival glass originated in the early 1900s, and production waned in the mid to late thirties. The bowls of carnival glass are part of a larger collection of collectable items known as carnival glass. Carnival glass is coated with iridescent, giving it an oil-like sheen and this glass is inexpensive. This process is known as doping and hence many leading glass manufacturers call it "dope glass".

The company Fenton was the first and largest, widely recognized carnival glass producer. Fenton initially began life as a company which decorated blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 it started creating carnival glass. When production started, Fenton glassware was marketed as "Iridill" or "iridescent ware". This was an instant hit and several other companies began producing and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.

During the Depression in the late 1920s, demand on products began to decrease which impacted to sales reduction and partly dissemination of the market of glass companies. Because of this, some companies started selling merchandise to extremely low prices, which led to closure of business, just to get rid of stocks to carnivals which they use as prizes on games.

Known as "carnival glass" by glass collectors, the popularity of carnival glass bowls surged in the 1950s. Originally used as carnival prizes, today reproductions are made by several companies. Fenton glass in particular is a prized collectible and the most frequently manufactured.

You can find carnival glass for sale at auctions, antique shops and online. Prices vary, with the Fenton antique glass and other well-known producers demanding the higher prices. The more common colors are marigold and dark hues like blue and green. Red or pastel colored carnival glass bowls are the most prized and, therefore, the higer priced pieces. A rare ice-blue plate sold on a popular auction website for $16,327.55!

For the newbie collectors, there are a lot of resources with plenty of information. A lot of web sites and books are out there for information on the many sizes and shapes these antiques are available. There are organizations for would-be enthusiasts too, which is a good method to learn more.

Carnival glass bowls are a highly collectible type of glass. They were produced by covering glass with an iridescent, shiny coating. The largest producer of carnival glass was Fenton. Fenton glassware quickly became popular, and other companies started producing carnival glass as well. Due to market saturation and the Great Depression, demand for carnival glass declined sharply in the late 1920s. Today, antique Fenton glass in particular is sought after by collectors, with red and pastel colored pieces considered the most valuable. Many resources are available for those new to collecting, such as websites and books with information on the various types of carnival glass.