Carnival glass bowls form a part of a larger set of collectibles called carnival glass. Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass to which an iridescent coating is applied or sprayed on, giving it an oil-like sheen. The process is known as doping, and hence the term "dope glass" was given to this particular form of glass. Being initially produced in the early 1900s the sales started to fall in the late thirties.

The company Fenton was the first and largest, widely recognized carnival glass producer. Fenton initially began life as a company which decorated blank glass produced by other companies. In 1907 it started creating carnival glass. When production started, Fenton glassware was marketed as "Iridill" or "iridescent ware". This was an instant hit and several other companies began producing and marketing their own carnival glass bowls.

In the late twenties, demand for their products began to wane. This was due to the decrease in sales during the Depression, and also in part to the saturation of the market by glass companies. To get rid of stock, companies began selling their wares at deeply discounted prices to carnivals, which the carnivals then used as prizes for their games. Several companies went out of business during this period.

Known as "carnival glass" by glass collectors, the popularity of carnival glass bowls surged in the 1950s. Originally used as carnival prizes, today reproductions are made by several companies. Fenton glass in particular is a prized collectible and the most frequently manufactured.

At present, auctions, antique shops, and online stores are the best places where one could get carnival glass at various prices. Fenton antique glass as well as other well-known carnival glass fetches high prices. Popular colors of these glasses are marigold, as well as dark hues like blue and green. However, carnival glass bowls in red or pastel color are the costliest item of this category. On a popular auction website, one rare ice-blue plate sold for $16,327.55!

These are many ways to collect more information about antique collectibles- books, websites, newsletters, and other documents will help any interested person find out about the designs, shapes, and sizes of antiques available. Many organizations are devoted to bringing collectors together to help them learn more about collecting.

Carnival glass bowls are a highly collectible type of glass. They were produced by covering glass with an iridescent, shiny coating. The largest producer of carnival glass was Fenton. Fenton glassware quickly became popular, and other companies started producing carnival glass as well. Due to market saturation and the Great Depression, demand for carnival glass declined sharply in the late 1920s. Today, antique Fenton glass in particular is sought after by collectors, with red and pastel colored pieces considered the most valuable. Many resources are available for those new to collecting, such as websites and books with information on the various types of carnival glass.