Fenton Art Glass Company Will Cease Production, and how sad this is! Hello again everyone! I am back with some news I received from one of the sites I belong to - Iantique.com A blog post had been done there by a member named Tom Norskov, and I have copied his blog post from there, and brought here for all to read about this breaking news of Fenton Art Glass Company.
Fenton Art Glass Company to cease production!
Posted by Tom Norskov Wed at 1:44 PM - Filed in Industry News - # #fenton glass - 25 views Here is the complete press release that went out to media, Fenton clubs, etc. earlier today:
FENTON ART GLASS TO CEASE TRADITIONAL GLASS PRODUCTION
AND SHIFT PRODUCT FOCUS
(Williamstown, W. Va., July 6, 2011). The Fenton Art Glass Company announced today that it would wind down production of its collectible and giftware glass products. The company has faced financial challenges since its restructuring in 2007, and recent developments combined to force the shutdown of its traditional glassmaking business.
"The market for our pressed and blown glassware has diminished," company President George Fenton said. "We cannot sustain the overhead costs. Our employees have worked hard and efficiently, so this is a very sad day for us. Shortly, we will begin the process of shutting down our main furnace. Remaining employees will be finishing existing glassware from the company's inventory that will be available through the Fenton Gift Shop as well as the company's web site and Fenton dealers across the country."
As a part of winding down the traditional business, Fenton Art Glass is exploring the sales of one or more product lines.
"We know that our many customers and friends will have questions," Fenton said. "Our web site www.fentonartglass.com will be updated regularly beginning the week of July 11."
Inquiries regarding sales of equipment and other assets should be directed to Fenton Art Glass at assetinfo@fentonartglass.comManagement at the Fenton Gift Shop is evaluating the impact of the termination of traditional glassmaking at Fenton Art Glass. "The Fenton Gift Shop is in discussions with Fenton Art Glass, the glass manufacturing company, to provide customers with a wide range of samples and special decorations as well as final quantities of limited edition pieces," said Randall Fenton, President of the Fenton Gift Shop. "The annual Tent Sale in Williamstown starts July 8, and the Fenton Gift Shop and the outlet store in Flatwoods, West Virginia, remain open."
Founded as a decorating company in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in May 1905 by brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton, the Fenton Art Glass Co. constructed its factory in Williamstown during the fall of 1906. The first glass pieces were made there on January 2, 1907. During its 106-year history, Fenton introduced the first iridescent ware (now known as "Carnival glass") as well as classic patterns such as Hobnail and a wide variety of handmade colored art glass as limited editions.
This is a really sad time as I so love Fenton Glass, their pieces created, the craftmanship, and just everything about them. Just so sad:(
* * Sat. July 9, 2011 UPDATE * *
Here is some additional information that was shared by Tom Norskov from The Vintage Village Social Network I copied to here:
* * Some additional information: Fenton Art Glass Co announced on July 6th that they will no longer be producing their giftware line. Some glass has been produced and their Halloween/Christmas line will ship to dealers by August 15. There are going to be some items not produced, but it is not known what items yet. The Fenton QVC shows scheduled for July 14 and July 16 will go on as scheduled.
* * Just some additional update information: This week Fenton announced some massive changes for the company in Williamstown, WV. After many years of adapting to the marketplace and exerting countless hours of dedicated hard work, they unfortunately have not been able to find a profitable way to continue manufacturing thier traditional glass lines. So what does all this mean for the Fenton Company? Is the company going out of business? The company is still in business, continuing to make beads and pursuing some industrial glassmaking projects.
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here.
I have 97 treasures now listed with my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store. Most of the items are vintage, collectibles, glassware, kitchenware, and home decor. Remember I transferred my other store into this one so I am also offering repurposed, upcycled, and recycled treasures too. I have more items to list, but have been working on getting things into order with the social medias I use, my blogs, my stores, etc.
I have also been transferring some of my items from my Ecrater store to my LilacsNDreams Addoway Store. This has been a slow process. I hope to spend more time with that tomorrow, Thursday, and have things ready for the weekend.
At the same time I also listed 3 items with Ebay, and my user name there is LilacsNDreams. I generally don't use that site, but once in a while will put a few things of value there to maybe sell. Helps move inventory a little bit sometimes too.
Now, while working on my stores, blogs, social medias, and so on. I have also been working on doing my Google Analytics. I like to follow that a bit to see how the stores are doing....being a pro member allows this for you. But, you can also hook your google analytics up to your blogs too. It's free to do this. I found this Google Analytics for the Average Joe from google giving simple instructions of how to do this. Hey, if I can follow the instructions, and understand it, you can too.
I hope ya'll have enjoyed your visit with LilacsNDreams today. Feel free to leave comments, ask questions, and maybe suggest things to me also. Glad to have you visit, and happy to hear from you too. Please visit with me anytime, and make sure to visit my other places I note too. If you cannot find a link to a store I sell with, my website, and etc. Check the right side bar for these links that are also clickable for you too. Simplicity. . . hoping to make it this way for all of us:)
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams. Just wanted to add a small update with the mystery of the research with the Fenton Blue Green Opalescent Grape and Cable Bowl I have listed at LilacsNDreams Artfire Shop.
Today 03-08-2011 I got an email from the museum@fentongiftshop.com in a response to a question I had asked earlier about this particular bowl. This is the response that they gave to me:
Color: Green Opalescent
Pattern: Grape and Cable
Year: Circa 1980s
Item: Bowl
They believe that the bowl was a sample made for the Fenton Gift Shop. They do not keep records of sample items. Fenton company did get their idea for the Grape and Cable pattern from Northwood Glass Company. The mould used to make this bowl is by Fenton.
Wow! So, this piece could very well be an unusual rare collectible. I have gone to the website for the FentonGiftShop.com to look at things more. They have a woman there for about 30 yrs now who paints the designs on some of the pieces for Fenton. She does take orders, and special requests for some pieces. That makes them even more unique, rare, and a treasured memory too! On this site they also discussed the scheduled tours you can take to see how glass is made, I got on one page that talked of the museum of glass and the cases of glass they show.
On their first page they have a paragraph that states Nowhere on earth will you find a wider selection of first-quality, preferred seconds and retired Fenton Art Glass then at the Fenton Gift Shop in Williamstown, WV, and then gives the address of where they are.
It also states on this page Limited items are available for purchase in the Fenton Gift Shop, and gives the number to call. If you like, visit Fenton Gift Shop to see all they have to show there. Amazing, and very insightful too!
After receiving this from them I felt it was confirmed just a little bit more about this being a special rare find---which others helping me with search had also questioned about this too. It would be a treasure to adorn someone's home for years to come.
Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams today, and glad you could join me. I am happy to share what I learn, and have really enjoyed learning about this bowl, meeting people along the way, and also enjoy passing this onto others. Take care, and have a great evening everyone!:)
After spending most of the week researching this Fenton Blue Opalescent Grape and Cable Bowl, and there were many others who also assisted with the research of this unique piece, I have finally listed this bowl for sale with my shop at Artfire. Most pieces of the Fenton Grape and Cable pattern are seen in the carnival glass. This is one piece that is not carnival glass, is not iridized for the carnival glass, and thought maybe to have gotten out the door of production before the marigold spray had been added to this for the carnival look. Or, could it have been a small experimental run with Fenton on this piece, and color? No one knows for sure, at least that has been found this far.
Many books, many authors, many researchers interpretations adds to the charm of this beautiful piece that words, and pictures cannot do justice to. When you get a chance, visit my shop at Artfire to view this beautiful piece. Great for the collector of Fenton, the Glass collector, and would make a great gift for someone very special too.
I am so thrilled with this piece, and had to come by to show everyone here. Enjoy!:) Have a super week everyone!:)
