1980–1989
Fenton 8
The numeral 8 beneath Fenton identifies the 1980s.
moulded · glass · Williamstown, West Virginia, United States
Glass
Fenton marks
The name “Fenton 8” appears among Fenton marks on glass from Williamstown, West Virginia, United States. Its mark period is 1980–1989.
- Active years
- 1905–2011
- Country
- United States
- Products
- carnival glass, milk glass, hobnail glass, hand-painted decorative glass, tableware
- Marks
- 5
1905 foundation; own glassmaking began 1907. Traditional Williamstown glassmaking ended July 2011; gift-shop, decorating and later Ohio-made products are separate continuations.
What to look for
- Read the small numeral with the oval logo: 8 denotes the 1980s, 9 the 1990s, 0 the 2000s and 1 the 2010s. A decade code is not a precise year.
- Distinguish the horizontal Fenton oval, vertical script-F oval and F-in-a-globe International branding. They convey different manufacturing or sourcing contexts.
- Search the foot, moulded decoration and lower body. Reheating can soften the mark, and some forms hide it away from the flat base.
Marks & lettering
5 marks
From 1983
F
moulded · glass · United States
A moulded script F in a vertical oval identifies glass made in acquired moulds; it was introduced in 1983.
From 2007
F
The globe distinguishes International branding from the oval marks.
brand-device drawing · black
The globe-and-F identifies the International range.
From 2010
Fenton 1 USA
The 1 is the decade code and USA is an origin addition.
moulded · glass · Williamstown, West Virginia, United States
Undated
Fenton
mark drawing · glass · United States
Detached drawing of the horizontal oval Fenton logo. The design occurs as a moulded glass mark and on labels; this drawing alone does not establish a paper-label application.
About Fenton
Brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton founded the Fenton Art Glass Company in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in 1905. The business initially decorated glass blanks made elsewhere. It built a factory in Williamstown, West Virginia, in 1906 and began making its own glass in January 1907. Later that year it introduced iridescent pressed glass, now known as carnival glass.
Fenton’s range expanded through changing colours, moulded patterns and hand finishing. Milk glass, hobnail, cased glass, decorative vessels and hand-painted wares became important products. The company also acquired moulds from other glass factories, so a familiar shape can exist in both an earlier maker’s production and a later Fenton version.
The revival of carnival glass in 1970 brought the moulded oval Fenton logo, distinguishing the new output from classic unmarked pieces. Decade numerals followed, and a vertical oval containing script F identified many acquired-mould products. Traditional glassmaking at Williamstown ended in July 2011. Later gift-shop production includes glass made from original moulds in Ohio and returned for decoration.
Also known as: Fenton USA · Fenton International · Fenton Art Glass Company
Look-alikes & how to tell them apart
Fenton Pottery Company, Staffordshire
The backlog currently maps the glass demand to this unrelated ceramics supplier.
FENTON POTTERY CO, STAFFS, MADE IN ENGLAND and Royal China Works identify British ceramic ware. Fenton Art Glass is the American glass company with oval-script branding.
Glass from acquired McKee or Imperial moulds
Fenton reused moulds whose designs originated at other factories.
A script F in a vertical oval identifies the Fenton-made version on many acquired moulds; compare the actual trademark and colour, not the shape alone.