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Millersburg |
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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© 2008 Carnival
Glass Collectors Association of Australia Inc |
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