Advertising or Lettered Carnival Glass

 Early Carnvial Glass makers were not about to overlook the lucrative business of providing special orders for promotional items or commemorative use. Most major manufacturers, with the exception of Imperial, made such items--either modifying existing patterns by adding the appropriate design and text, or by creating the design from scratch.

Most advertising and commemorative pieces are in short supply. They were no doubt originally made in substantial quantities, but many were likely discarded as they were viewed as tacky promotional objects. Wouldn't the original owners be stunned by the prices they now bring at auction?

To learn more about lettered and advertising pieces, please read the John D. Resnik book entitled: "The Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass Lettered Pieces".

Ballard - These scarce 6-inch items have Northwood's basketweave on the reverse. The lettering reads "Ballard, Merced, Cal." Found only in ruffled bowls and flat plates in amethyst.
Bellaire Good Will Tour - This 7-inch marigold bowl was commissioned as a souvenir of a tour sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Bellaire, Ohio. The bowls are quite scarce and seldom come up for sale. Only found in Marigold. Assumed to be made by the Imperial Glass Company as they were located in Bellaire Ohio.
Bernheimer Bros. - This special-order bowl was made from Millersburg's Many Stars pattern and has the words "Bernheimer Brothers" around the central 5-pointed star. It measures about 10 inches across. Known only in these blue ruffled bowls.
Birmingham Age Herald - This piece was evidently given to subscribers by newspaper boys as a token of thanks from the Birmingham, Alabama newspaper. The phrase at the bottom reads, "Carriers Greetings." Ruffled bowls are more scarce than the plates which are the only two shapes available. Wide Panel is the exterior pattern.
John H. Brand - Fenton made advertising pieces from it's Open Edge baskets for three companies; John H. Brand Co. Furniture, Feldman Bros. Furniture, and Miller's Furniture. They all have similar lettering on the inside base. Known only in marigold and only with two sides up.

Brazier's Candies - Fenton used its Garden Mums blank to make this 6-inch advertising piece. It is found, only in amethyst, in flat plates, handgrip plates (as shown), and ruffled bowls. The lettering reads "Brazier's Candies."

Read Frank Fenton's 2004 update to John Resnik's request and Don Chamberlain's 2011 update.
Broecker's Flour - Very plain with only the script lettering "We Use Broeker's Flour" across the center. Still, these 6-inch amethyst plates are rare and desirable enough to command good prices.
Brooklyn Bridge - There are two versions of the Brooklyn Bridge bowl. The one commonly seen has the lettering "Brooklyn Bridge" between the dirigible and the bridge. The extremely rare examples omit the lettering. Both are found in marigold 6 or 8 ruffled bowls with iridescense that is either radium or satiny.
Campbell and Beesley - Found only in 6-inch handgrip plates in amethyst. The lettering reads "Campbell + Beesley Co. Spring Opening 1911." It's unusual to find any classic Carnival item with a date molded into it, so we know just when this one was made.
Central Shoe Store - Made from Fenton's Garden Mums blank, this 6-inch advertising piece is found, only in amethyst, in flat plates, handgrip plates (as shown), and round and ruffled bowls. The lettering reads "Compliments of The Central Shoe Store" with the location, "Collinsville and St. Louis Aves, East St. Louis, Ill," underneath.

Cleveland Memorial Ashtray - The Cleveland Memorial ashtray is a commemorative piece that depicts five scenes from the Cleveland, Ohio area:

1) Garfield Statue
2) Chamber Commerce
3) Garfield's Tomb
4) Soldiers and Sailors Monument
5) Superior's Viaduct

Relatively few are known in either amethyst or marigold, the two colors available.
Courthouse - These bowls were commemorative pieces, produced by Millersburg to honor the city in which they were based. The most often seen bowl has the words "Courthouse, Millersburg Ohio" under the building. Much more rare are the versions without the lettering under the building, apparently the first examples, after which the makers decided that the building needed identification.

The bowls are found in amethyst or lavender with various edge treatments.
Davidson's Society Chocolates - Found only in plates with either one or two sides pulled up. Only in amethyst.

The script lettering reads "Davidson's Society Chocolates."
Dorsey and Funkenstein - Quite rare. Dorsey & Funkenstein pieces were made from Fenton's Garden Mums blank. The lettering reads "Greetings Dorsey & Funkenstein Furniture." According to the October 1917 issue of The Furniture Worker, Dorsey and Funkenstein was located in Athens, Georgia. Dorsey was at one time mayor of Athens.

Found in round and ruffled bowls and single hand-grip and flat plates. Found only in amethyst.
Dreibus Parfait Sweets - Much like the other Northwood 6-inch advertising pieces, this one has the script lettering "Dreibus Parfait Sweets" in the center with two flowers--one on the right and one lower left.

Found in amethyst, lavender and rarely in horehound. Shapes include flat plates, single handgrip plates, double handgrip plates and ruffled bowls.

Eagle Furniture - The lettering on the 6-inch Eagle pieces reads "Eagle Co. Furniture" with the address "282-284 South Main St." lettered below. Found in flat plates, double hand-grip plates and single hand-grip plates. There are no records of round or ruffled bowls. Found in amethyst only. Sometimes the amethyst is light enough to be called lavender.
Eat Paradise Sodas - Paradise Sodas are crackers and this piece was a premium that Fenton made for the manufacturer of those crackers, apparently for use at Christmas time. The complete lettering reads "Season's Greetings, Eat Paradise Sodas." Found only in 6-inch plates in amethyst.
Elk, Dugan - There are only a few of these nappies known, thought to have been prototypes but never produced in quantity. The one above is the only one known in this shape. The others are ruffled versions.
Elk, 1910 Detroit, Fenton - Fenton made 7-inch bowls, plates, and bells for several B.P.O.E. conventions. In this 1910 Detroit version, the elk looks to the viewer's right. Most bowls are ruffled but three-in-one and round bowls are also found. Shown is a green 1910 Detroit ruffled bowl. Other bowls can be found in amethyst, marigold and blue. Rare plates are known in green.
Elk, 1910 Detroit, Millersburg - The Millersburg version of the Elks bowl faces to the viewers left and both eyes are seen--thus it is sometimes called the "two-eyed elk." It is found only on this "1910 Detroit" bowl and the paperweight. Found in ruffled, ice cream shaped and 3n1 edged bowls. Only found in amethyst.

Elk, 1911 Atlantic City, Fenton - Fenton made 7-inch bowls, plates, and bells for the 1911 B.P.O.E. convention. In this 1911 Atlantic City version, the elk always looks to the viewer's right. The 1911 Atlantic City pattern is always found in blue.
Elk, 1912 Portland, Fenton - This rare bell was first photographed at the 1993 auction where it brought $22,500. Apparently it was made as a sample for an Elks convention that never took place or was rejected for some reason. The only one known.
Elk, 1914 Parkersburg, Fenton - Fenton made 7-inch plates and bells for the 1914 B.P.O.E. convention. In this 1914 Parkersburg version, the elk looks to the viewer's right. Always found in blue.
Elk Paperweight, Millersburg - The Millersburg version of the Elk faces to the viewers left and both eyes are seen--thus it is sometimes called the "two-eyed elk." It is found only on this paperweight and on the 1910 Detroit bowl. The paperweight is rare and found only in purple and a rare green. It measures 2 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches. The paperweight has been reproduced.
Exchange Bank - These 6-inch pieces were made for the Exchange Bank of Glendive, Montana from Fenton's Garden Mums pattern. Available in flat plates, single hand-grip plates and ruffled and round bowls. Found only in amethyst.

Fern Brand Chocolates - This is one of the most frequently seen advertising pieces. As with most others, it's 6 inches across. The lettering reads "Fern Brand Chocolates" and there is a fern frond substituted for one of the flowers usually found on these pieces. Plates, single hand-grip plates and double hand-grip plates have been reported in amethyst and lavender.
Geo. W. Getts - The Getts pieces are made from Fenton's Garden Mums blank. The lettering reads "Geo. W. Getts Pianos" with the location "Grand Forks, N. Dak." underneath. Apparently nobody checked the lettering as the "s" in "Forks" is backward. Shapes are plates; handgrip plates; ruffled, round or ice cream shaped bowls. Found only in amethyst.
Gevurtz Bros Furniture - Based on Fenton's Garden Mums blank, this 6-inch advertising piece is found in flat plates, handgrip plates, and ruffled and round bowls. Found only in amethyst. The lettering reads "Gevurtz Bros Furniture & Clothing" with the location, "Union Ave. & East Burnside St," underneath.
Greengard Furniture - Rare advertising piece known in three double-handgrip plates, one single-handgrip plate, and the ruffled bowl shown here--all amethyst. The complete lettering reads "Greengard Furniture Co, 11020 Mich. Ave, Roseland, Ill." (a suburb of Chicago). Found only in amethsyt.
H. Maday & Sons - Fenton's Wild Blackberry bowl was sometimes used as an advertising piece with "H. Maday and Co 1910" molded into the bottom of the base.

Horlacher - Fenton made pieces in four patterns with Horlacher advertising in the base: Butterflies bonbons, and bowls in Peacock Tail, Thistle and Vintage. Horlacher items can be found in amethyst, green and marigold.
Howard Furniture vases - The bases of certain green Four Pillar vases have advertising. It reads "Howard Furniture Co. 109 & 111 N. Howard St.". Thought to be a Millersburg item.
E.A. Hudson Furniture - Typical of the Northwood 6-inch advertising pieces, the lettering reads "E.A.Hudson Furniture Co." with the address "711 Travis St" below. A scarce pattern. Found only in amethyst or a light lavender in ruffled bowls, single handgrip plates and flat plates.
Illinois Solders and Sailors Home - While these souvenir plates are expensive and desirable, they do show up for sale on a regular basis. Blue and marigold appear in about the same quantities. You can see the exterior pattern, Fenton's Berry and Leaf Circle, showing through.
Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument - The bowl, above, was photographed at an auction in 1994. It and a plate are only a handful of examples of this pattern. Like the Indiana State House and Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home patterns, this has Fenton's Berry and Leaf Circle on the back.

Indiana State House - Much more rare than the similar Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home, only two of these 7-8 inch plates are known in blue and one in marigold. Has the Fenton Berry and Leaf Circle pattern on the back.
Isaac Benesch & Sons - Millersburg made two shapes for Isaac Benesch & Sons; ruffled bowls like that above left, and two-handled bonbons with their Holly pattern on the front and the words Isaac Benesch 54th Anniversary on the back. The bowls are found only in amethyst, and the bonbons only in marigold. The bowl above is a curiousity, however, as the spelling of the word Benesch has the "s" left out. The mispelled versions are very rare.
Jockey Club - Other than the name, this piece has nothing to do with horses as Jockey Club was a perfume. Made from the same 6-inch mold Northwood used for most of its advertising pieces it has a basketweave back. Found in ruffled bowls, single hand-grip plates and flat plates. Available mostly in amethyst; a lighter horehound is also found.
J N Ledford - An extremely rare plate made from Fenton's Heart and Vine pattern, the lettering reads "Souvenir of J N Ledford Company, Cooleemee N.C.". Found only in flat plates in marigold.
Norris N. Smith - The lettering on this Fenton pattern reads "Norris N. Smith Real Estate & Insurance, Rome Ga." A somewhat scarce advertising piece. Shapes include ruffled and ice cream shaped bowls, flat plates and handgrip plates. Found only in amethyst.

Ogden Furniture - Another of the several advertising pieces based on Fenton's 6-inch Garden Mums pattern. The lettering reads "Ogden Furniture, Carpet, Ogden, Utah." Available in ruffled and round bowls, flate plates and handgrip plates. Found only in amethyst.
Old Rose Distilling - Northwood made promotional plates for the Old Rose Distilling Co. of Chicago. They are always in green and are highly collectible not only because they are lettered (though on the collar base), but the front has Northwood's Grape and Cable pattern in the variant and is stippled as well. These plates also have the ribbed back.
Pacific Coast Mail Order - Known in both marigold and blue (a handful of examples of each), these fruit bowls are based on Fenton's Grape and Cable fruit bowls that have a plain interior. The complete lettering reads "Compliments of Pacific Coast Mail Order House, Los Angeles."
Peacock Tail Advertising Hats - Fenton used its Peacock Tail hats as advertising pieces for five companies. The advertisment is in the the hexagonal base of the hats. While the General Furniture 1910 hat is shown above, the others are quite similar. Others are: Delmar Gardens; Hudsons, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Arthur F. ODell Quincy Jewler; and Truckey & Sons Dept Store 1910
Penny and Gentles - Only two pieces are known in the pattern; the other is a 2 sides up plate. Both are amethyst. The lettering under the name says, "Broadway and Morgan." The exterior is plain, unusual for Northwood advertising pieces.

Rood's Chocolates - Hard to believe that such a plain item could be worth so much, but when one of the handful of known examples comes up for sale, it'll bring a good price. These little Fenton plates are 6 inches across and always in amethyst. The lettering reads "Rood's Chocolates, Pueblo."
Spectors Department Store - Based on Fenton's Heart and Vine pattern, these are 9-inch marigold plates. The full lettering reads "Compliments of Spector's Department Store".
Sterling Furniture - The lettering reads "Sterling Furniture Co, 1043 Market St., San Francisco Cal." Like many other lettered pieces, Sterling Furniture pieces were made using Fenton's Garden Mums as the basis for the pattern. Available in round and ruffled bowls, flat plates, and handgrip plates. Found only in amethyst.
Utah Liquor Co. - Utah Liquor is also made by Fenton using their 6-inch Garden Mums blank. The lettering here reads "Utah Liquor Co." across the center with "Lewis 66 Rye" (apparently the company's principal brand) above and "228 S. Main St." below. The phrase "Phones 473" in smaller letters is just below the main letters. Available in flat plates, single handgrip plates and double handgrip plates. Found only in amethyst.