Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => USA => Topic started by: Glen on August 09, 2007, 09:42:52 PM
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Sad, sad news, although not unexpected.
http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new01_89200730855.asp
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Shocking to see them close but inevitable, fentons have always been associated with nice glass.. Shame really, but not unexpected, there seems to have been an art glass explosion of late and the fentons name seems to have depreciated over time. Pity to see them go down the tube.. but two or three years from now I bet they'll be calling themselves fentons fine glass and antiques¬!
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If they go out of buisness dosnt that make them stronger? As a company? I.E: More collectable! As my mentor once told me when it came to art glass, If they're out of buisness then it's all the more collectable.
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I think that if I was a Fenton collector, I might be more than a little worried about the value of my collection. Fenton has been very proactive in the marking of their glass products. They actually used it to promote sales to reflect that you were getting a genuine piece of Fenton. But remember that the most valuable asset of a glass company is their moulds and with the creditors wanting as much money as they can get, those moulds will be sold. Think of what is going to happen when the Fenton moulds are dispersed at auction to glass factories around the world. There is going to be a lot of glass with the Fenton marks coming in from off shore. I shudder at the thought!
Sid
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Thanks, Glen, for giving us this sad news.
Yes, of course you're right Sid, the creditors will insist on the moulds being sold. The best that can be hoped for is that they end up in the hands of some company with a little integrity, who fill in or change the mark. Likelihood?
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Sometimes the molds are bought by the collectors clubs and I think there is a strong Fenton collectors club in the States. I do hope that happens.
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Fenton have many, many, many moulds. More than you could believe. About ten or eleven years ago (when Steve and I were researching for our first book) we spent some time at Fenton's, using their archives and talking to Frank M. and other people in the factory. Frank took us into his store room - it held so many treasures - moulds, glass - so much. Frank even bought more moulds at the L.G. Wright sale (which in itself was a massive event).
FACGA (the Fenton Art Glass Collectors Club) certainly is very big, but .......
It's the saddest day. Not just the glass, but the history, the tradition, so much more than I can say right now.
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If they go out of buisness dosnt that make them stronger? As a company? I.E: More collectable! As my mentor once told me when it came to art glass, If they're out of buisness then it's all the more collectable.
It won't be THEM that will reap any benefits though, will it? :'(
Collectors may or may not find that the very collectable rarities become more collectable, but any improvement in value won't go anywhere near the company's coffers.
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Glen, very sad news indeed. :cry: How many more are we going to see go the same way? :huh:
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Dear Readers,
Just thought that some of you might be interested in the Fenton Art Glass Company closing:
http://www.newsandsentinel.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=19058 (http://www.newsandsentinel.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=19058)
And evidently there is more to the story than is reported in the press:
http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/fentonartglass/messages/76.html (http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/fentonartglass/messages/76.html)
Shirley in Charleston, WV
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Hi Shirley, Glen posted this already yesterday on the board so I've moved your post across to join her topic to keep all responses in one place. The extra info links in yours are welcome, thanks.
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Hi Shirley - many thanks for the other links.
If anyone wants to see a couple of TV news videos on it all, this Fox WTAP link has them.
http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/9064516.html
Glen
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This is so, so sad. I'm feeling really devastated to hear of this news.
I have a fair bit of Fenton in my collection & of course their hand vases are the very finest ever made, so I'm truly upset at the loss of such a legend in the glass scene who upheld the traditions of Victorian style art glass.
It's tragic that market forces continually demand cheaper & cheaper products. We will end up with nothing but a lot of $2 shop junk in the future. A very black day for glass-making & glass collectors everywhere. :'(
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Is it perhaps possible to buy a tiny mould for my museum here? first gaze is this one:
http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/vasen/02559.html
I'd love to show a mould also :hug:
Pamela
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but could be any other too, if affordable by me
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Pamela,
I too would love to be able to buy a mold from Fenton. Any of their hand vase ones would be a perfect complement to my collection of hand vases. It would be brilliant for my research on them too, & I could feature it in my book as an example of a hand vase mold.
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Last week (24 August), company president George Fenton said that our current flow of incoming orders is such that we will probably continue glassmaking longer than first stated. So, we expect to continue the traditional pressing and blowing operations until late November or early December of this year. If you are planning a trip to the US, Fenton should be a "must visit" for you.
The Fenton Gift Shop and museum will remain open even after glassmaking ceases. The Gift Shop is exploring ways to keep some level of the glassmaking experience going, as this is quite a draw for tourists.
James Measell, Historian
Fenton Art Glass Co.
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That is good news even if its only for a limited time. Many thanks for keeping us posted about events at Fenton.
Is there any news about the molds - as in what is likely to happen to them?
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A press release today on the Fenton website informs us that they are hoping / planning to stay in business.
http://www.fentonartglass.com/press_release_12_4_2007.htm
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That's good news :clap:
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I wonder if or how they managed to resolve the lawsuit filed by their natural gas provider ? Amerada Hess Energy Corp. filed the suit against Fenton Art Glass in the Wood County Circuit Court as reported November 14, 2007 in the Marietta Times for $191,685.88. Fenton had not paid their natural gas supplier for virtually ages & kept stringing them along. You cannot make glass without natural gas so unless they are settling the suit (they were given 30 days to respond) I would not hold my breath. Seems all you hear are conflicting stories in the area locally.