Carnival Glass

Carnival glass

Carnival glass is moulded or pressed glass with an applied iridescent surface shimmer. It has previously been referred to as aurora glass, dope glass, rainbow glass, taffeta glass, and disparagingly as 'poor man's Tiffany'. The name Carnival glass was adopted by collectors in the 1950s as the items were sometimes given as prizes at carnivals, fetes, and fairgrounds. However, evidence suggests that the vast majority of it was purchased by households to brighten homes at a time when only the well-off could afford electric lighting, as the finish catches the light even in dark corners. From the beginning of the 20th century, carnival glass was mass-produced around the world, but largely in the U.S. It reached the height of its popularity in the 1920s, though it is still produced in small quantities today.

Carnival

Carnival is a festive season at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.

Glass

Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline) solid. Because it is often transparent and chemically inert, glass has found widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in window panes, tableware, and optics. Some common objects made of glass are named after the material, e.g., a "glass" for drinking, "glasses" for vision correction, and a "magnifying glass".

carnival glass

Noun

1. A type of glassware dating from the early 20th century, notable for lustrous colors.