Fenton Blue Carnival Glass Panther Small Bowl

A gorgeous Fenton carnival glass small bowl in the highly collectible Panther pattern having a double mold in the interior of the bowl with mirrored images of the stalking cat, the interior edge walls is further decorated with the hearts on the inside similar to the Hearts & Trees pattern and the Butterfly and Berry pattern on the exterior. The bowl has a ruffle rim with a beaded type pattern resting on three raised claw ball feet. Exquisite color and iridescence with the blue being light and bright, gold/orange/red tones with purple coming through on the panthers, simply beautiful!!!

Approximate Dimensions: 2 1/4" T., 5 3/8" Diam

Circa 1900-1910

Condition: Overall Excellent No Chips, Cracks, or Repairs.

Condition can be Very Subjective to each individual collector - Multiple photos from different angles and in different lighting were taken to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of this piece. Please look at photos carefully as they are part of my description.

CARNIVAL GLASS is the term referring to IRIDIZED patterned pressed glass introduced in the 1900s by FENTON and subsequently made by an array of other glass makers.  The process involved a microscopically thin coating of metal applied as a solution of one or more metallic salts (stannous chloride [tin], iron chloride, lead chloride, et. al.) by hand-spraying the hot-from-the-mold glass. The carrying solution vaporized leaving the metallic salts to bond on a molecular level with the glass, producing a surface that reflected light in a rainbow of colors. Each salt, or combination of salts produced a different color with intensity tied to the thickness of the coating.
EXCELLENT UNDAMAGED ANTIQUE CONDITION means that while a listed item has no post-production damage such as chips or cracks, it may have discernible minor wear from usage and/or nesting (stacking) and, since production conditions in the early 1900s were dirty and dangerous and there was no "Quality Control" as we now know it, any number of the following production issues:
AIR BUBBLES in the glass that were not squeezed out during pressing.
HEAT CHECKS which are internal rifts filled with air (which is why you can see them), usually from a burst air bubble.
INCLUSIONS in or on the surface of the glass, such as ash and cinders. Often found in the flames of vases and rims of bowls were it settled during pressing.
STRANDS of undissolved colorant (usually in green glass).
STRAW MARKS which are lines in the glass caused by premature solidification where the molten glass was snipped from the gathering rod with cool metal shears when the mold was full; lines also formed on the surface during the cooling process.
TOOL MARKS from implements used to form the edge or influence the shape.
MOLD ISSUES related to filling and release such as incomplete or malformed edges, rough seams, extra glass at seams; webbed, incomplete or pulled edge points.
COOLING ISSUES such as uneven legs, slanted stems or a bowed base (causing rocking), surface lines and heat checks.

Production issues in the extreme may be undesirable, but they do not qualify as "damage" and will be found to some degree on nearly all antique glassware. Issues of MAJOR wear and production flaws will be mentioned and photographed.