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The
following article is the third in a series written by American carnival
glass collector Bob Grissom. It is reproduced with Bob’s kind permission.
There are other articles by Bob on Fenton and Northwood.
Original Carnival Glass
Makers – Millersburg Glass Company
by Bob Grissom
The
Millersburg Glass Company of Millersburg, Ohio, started in May 1909 and
ceased  operation,
after declaring bankruptcy, in June of 1911. The founder was John W.
Fenton, brother of Frank L. Fenton, founder of the Fenton Art Glass
Company. Their first months of operation were devoted to the production
of crystal glass only. After that they started iridizing the glass. Their
iridized pressed glass was called ‘Radium Glass’. The years of
production, and volume, were much smaller than those of other firms
making iridized glass. In colour, lustre, and pattern Millersburg pieces
are most distinctive. Many of the pieces produced are the most sought
after by the present day collector.
Millersburg’s
glass production was limited to a very few colours. These were
amethyst/purple, blue, green, marigold, and vaseline. Their production of
items in blue and vaseline was evidently very limited, because only a few
pieces in either colour are known. Only the ‘Ohio Star’ vase (pictured at
right) and about three other smaller pieces are known in white. No items
in the pastel colours of ice blue, ice green, and aqua opalescent are
known.
The
major portion of Millersburg production was concentrated on bowls,
compotes, table sets, water sets, vases, and novelty items. The ‘Hanging
Cherries’ and ‘Hobstar and Feather’ patterns were used on more pieces
than any other. The ‘Hobstar & Feather’ pattern was possibly one of
the first iridized pieces, because it was also made in crystal. Pieces in
this pattern are thick massive glass, with a deep pressed design. The
pieces are impressive. Fruit and flower patterns along with some stylized
designs are known. There are also both fish and bird (peacock) patterns,
which are popular with the Millersburg collectors. We know of no animal
patterns. Millersburg made some lettered pieces, ‘Elks’ (1910 B.P.O.E.),
ICS, and ruffled bowls and the paperweight. The ‘Elks’ pieces differ from
those made by Fenton. On the Millersburg pieces the elks have two eyes.
One of the more popular lettered pieces is the ‘Millersburg Courthouse’
bowl, which commemorates the courthouse in Millersburg.
Many
of the Millersburg pieces are considered very rare. It would take many
pages to describe all of these, but one such rarity is the blue ‘Peoples’
vase. The first ‘Peoples’ vase appeared at a 1963 Antique Show in Tulsa,
Oklahoma with a price of $75.00. It did not sell. At the Wichita, KS
Antique Show, a week later, it was purchase by a Mrs. Schrader of
Hutchinson, KS for the $75.00. In 1967 she sold it to John Woody
(Woody
Auction Co.) for $400.00. Woody sold it to an Indiana collector, Charles
Thrawley. Woody auctioned the Thrawley collection in 1969 when the vase
sold to Alice Ferrish of California for $2,700. In 1972, Woody purchased
the vase from Mrs.Ferrish for $4,500. In 1973 Woody sold it at auction to
Jim Mogg of Hamilton, Missouri for $8,100. In 1982 Woody sold the Mogg
collection and the vase went to a Texas collector for $5,000. The
‘Peoples’ vase is known in amethyst, blue, green, and marigold, with only
one known in marigold.
The
book ‘Millersburg Glass’ by Marie McGee (The Queen of Carnival Glass)
gives a complete and thorough description of the many pieces of
Millersburg glass.
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