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Fenton Art Glass Company in Parkersburg
Fenton Art Glass Company is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States.
The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John W. Fenton in an old glass factory building in Martins Ferry, Ohio. They began by painting decorations on glass blanks made by other glass manufacturers. Soon, being unable to get the glass they needed, they decided to produce their own glass. The first glass from the new Fenton factory in Williamstown, West Virginia, was made on January 2, 1907.
Frank L. Fenton's desire to develop new and unusual colors helped to keep Fenton in the forefront of the handmade art glass industry. During the years from 1905 to the 1920's, Fenton design was heavily influenced by the artists at Tiffany and Steuben. In late 1907, Fenton introduced "Iridescent" glass. This glass, now known as "Carnival" glass, is a popular collectible today.
During the 1930's and 1940's, Fenton produced practical items, such as mixing bowls and tableware to get through the depression and WWII shortages. They continued working on developing a wide array of new colors. In the late 1940's, the top three members of the Fenton management team died, leaving Frank M. Fenton, age 33, and Wilmer C. (Bill) Fenton, age 25, to step in and take over as President and Vice President. In spite of other glass factories closing at a rapid rate, Frank and Bill led the Fenton factory through significant American growth for the next 30 years.
In 1986, the leadership of the company passed on to the third generation, with George W. Fenton, Frank M's son, taking over as President. Today nine Fenton family members work together along with over 400 employees to create handmade glass artistry that is loved by collectors around the world. Fenton is known for its beautiful colors and patterns. Each piece of glass is an artistic creation by skilled glassworkers and decorators.
Online Reference Materials:
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The Fenton Promise
The Fenton Family Tree
The Fenton History Timeline
History of the Fenton Logo
History of the Fenton Label
Celebrating the Handler
Marks of the Basket Handler
Browse Fenton Catalogs
Purchase Reference Materials
Fenton and QVC, How it All Began
The Fenton Decorator
The Ingredients of Glass
Watch Glass Being Made - Online Videos
Upcoming Events
Biographies:
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Shelley A. Fenton Ash
Lynn E. Fenton Erb
Wilmer C. "Bill" Fenton
Christine L. Fenton
Don A. Fenton
Frank M. Fenton
George W. Fenton
Michael D. Fenton
Nancy G. Fenton
Randall R. Fenton
Scott K. Fenton
Thomas K. Fenton
Dave Fetty, Glass Artist
Angelo Rossi, Glass Artist
Frank O. Myers, Fenton's first basket handler
Suzi Whitaker, Sculptor
Kim Barley, Decorating Designer
Frances Burton, Decorating Designer
J. K. "Robin" Spindler, Decorating Designer
Martha Reynolds, Decorating Designer
Stacy Williams, Decorating Desig
Phone: 304-375-6122 Address: 10 miles north of Parkersburg City: Mid-Ohio Valley~ State: WV Zip: 26101 Region: Mid-Ohio Valley Url: http://www.fentonartglass.com Canaan Valley - Albright - Davis - - Mathias - Keyser - Thomas - Berkeley Springs - Potomac Highlands~ - Fayetteville - Harpers Ferry - West Virginia Regions - Roanoke - Moorefield - Beckley - Eastern Panhandle~ - Hico - Cass - Petersburg - Snowshoe - Elkins - Hatfield-McCoyMountains~ - Ansted - Franklin - Philippi - Fairmont - Buckhannon - NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ |
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Phone: (301) 330-0307
