Fenton Amethyst Carnival Glass Coin Dot Ruffled Bowl

This is a vintage carnival glass bowl manufactured by the Fenton Art Glass Company, featuring the classic 'Coin Dot' pattern. The piece is constructed from amethyst-colored pressed glass, which has been treated with a metallic salt coating to produce a brilliant iridescence or 'oil slick' effect. This iridescence displays a prismatic range of colors including vivid greens, purples, golds, and blues. The bowl features a distinctively crimped or ruffled undulating rim, which was a signature finishing technique of Fenton's craftsmen. The interior surface is decorated with concentric circles of raised, stippled circular discs (dots), which give the pattern its name. From a condition standpoint, the piece appears well-preserved with high-quality luster; however, there is a visible linear mark or inclusion in the center of the bowl that may be a manufacturing straw mark or a light surface scratch. As an early 20th-century piece, likely dating from the 1910s to the 1920s, it exemplifies the American Art Glass movement's push to make decorative luxury-style items more accessible. The base typically features a collar foot, and the overall weight and clarity of the glass indicate superior early pressing techniques.

Based on my examination of this Fenton Amethyst Coin Dot bowl, I have assessed it as an original piece of early 20th-century American Carnival Glass, likely produced between 1910 and 1920. The amethyst base glass is the most desirable color for this specific pattern, providing a deep canvas for the high-quality iridescence which retains excellent saturation of greens and purples. The ruffled edge is consistent with Fenton's hand-finishing techniques. The 'straw mark' noted in the center is a common annealing characteristic of pressed glass from this era and generally does not penalize the value as a post-production crack would, though it must be distinguished from a scratch through physical feel. The market for Coin Dot remains stable due to its status as a foundational pattern for collectors, though commonality limits its ceiling. Current auction comparables for this size and color range from $60 to $100. Limitations: While visual markers such as the stippling and collar foot align with Fenton production, definitive authentication requires a physical tactile inspection to check for modern 'repro' seams or acid-etched 'F' marks from later 1970s reissues. True authentication would also require verifying a lack of 'sick glass' (internal clouding) and confirming the mark is indeed a cooling line rather than a surface fracture, which can only be done under 10x magnification or via a 'ring test' for resonance.