Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a classic 4-inch Fenton Art Glass trumpet vase featuring their signature hobnail pattern and a beautifully ruffled, crimped rim. Cast in 'Colonial Green'—a warm, olive-toned glass popular in the mid-century—this piece showcases the company's mastery of hand-shaped glass. It represents a beloved era of American decorative glassmaking where functional items doubled as vibrant, sculptural art.
Story
Fenton introduced its iconic hobnail pattern in 1939, but this earthy Colonial Green hue was launched in the 1960s to match the decade's warm interior design trends. Every single ruffle on this vase's rim was shaped by hand using a wooden tool while the glass was still red-hot. This means no two vases from the factory floor were ever completely identical.
Maker / Origin
Founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton, the Fenton Art Glass Company became the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. Operating out of West Virginia, they survived the Great Depression and changing tastes by constantly innovating with colors, treatments, and patterns.
Condition & Value
The vase appears to be in good vintage condition with no obvious chips to the delicate ruffled edges or the tips of the hobnails. Mineral deposits or 'cloudiness' from water use can sometimes occur inside the vase, which would slightly reduce the value. Excellent, chip-free condition commands the top end of the estimate.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.