Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl Value Guide

The Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl is a quintessential example of Mid-Century American glassware, featuring the iconic raised 'hobnail' texture and a hand-finished crimped rim. Produced by the Fenton Art Glass Company between 1950 and 1970, these olive green bowls are highly collectible for their distinct color and craftsmanship.

What Is Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl Worth?

The typical price range for Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl is $40 - $60 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition is paramount; chips or 'flea bites' on the tips of the hobnails significantly reduce the $40-$60 value.
• The clarity and consistency of the olive green pigment throughout the glass body.
• The presence of an original Fenton foil label or an acid-etched logo (though logos were only added after 1970).
• The complexity and symmetry of the ruffled edge, as these were hand-finished by glass artisans.

How to Identify Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl?

• Look for the uniform, raised hobnail bumps across the exterior of the olive green glass.
• Examine the rim for the characteristic hand-crimped or ruffled edge unique to Fenton's finishing process.
• Check the base for a footed pedestal design, which distinguishes this compote style from flat-bottomed bowls.
• Verify the glass color matches the specific 'Olive Green' palette used by Fenton during the 1950-1970 era.

History of Fenton Hobnail Ruffled Bowl

Hobnail glass became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and saw a revival with American makers like Fenton Art Glass Company in the 1930s through the 1970s. Fenton specialized in pressed and hand-finished decorative glass with characteristic hobnail texture and crimped or ruffled rims. Pieces like this were produced as decorative bowls, compotes, and centerpieces and remain popular with collectors of vintage glass.