| I have been collecting Fenton Art Glass for | | | | don't make it too hard on yourself. Choose a |
| almost eight years now and probably my | | | | pattern that you really like that will be |
| favorite collection is Crests. Fenton crests | | | | within your budget. |
| are often made from milk glass (although not | | | | |
| always) and have a different color of glass | | | | 4. Consider collecting shapes that you like. |
| applied to the edge of the piece. Crests | | | | As an alternative to selecting a single color |
| were made starting in the late 1930's and | | | | of crest to collect, consider choosing a |
| technically are still being made today. | | | | shape. There are several shapes that Fenton |
| However, most of the crests that I collect | | | | made in almost all of the different crest |
| were made in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. | | | | colors. Collecting jack in the pulpit vases, |
| Here are five quick tips that I have | | | | baskets, bon bons or rose bowls in all the |
| discovered in collecting Fenton Crests. | | | | different colors can be a lot of fun and they |
| | | | can look really cool all displayed together. |
| 1. Choose colors that you like. When I | | | | |
| started collecting crests I decided that I | | | | 5. Look for the deal. When you start out |
| wanted to get one piece of every color of | | | | collecting crests it will probably be |
| crest that Fenton made. A few years later I | | | | tempting to just buy the cheaper common |
| discovered that I had over a hundred pieces | | | | pieces. However, remember to sprinkle a few |
| and I didn't really enjoy a lot of them. | | | | really great rare pieces (or at least keep an |
| Since then I have begun to focus my | | | | eye out for the deals) into your collection. |
| collection on colors that I really love. For | | | | Whenever you are out shopping for antiques or |
| me, I really enjoy Fenton Blue Ridge, | | | | browsing the web keep an eye out for great |
| Black-Crest, Blue Snowcrest, Ruby Silvercrest | | | | deals and awesome pieces. Rare pieces tend |
| and Ivory-Crest. | | | | to hold their value a lot better than common |
| | | | ones and it is always great to be able to |
| 2. Choose patterns that will display nicely. | | | | tell the story of where you found your best |
| It is a real shame to buy beautiful pieces of | | | | pieces. |
| glass and then keep them hidden in a box. | | | | |
| Use your glass to decorate with. Consider | | | | 6. Buy the books. There are a number of |
| using groupings of similar colors to create | | | | great books that will show you the different |
| centerpieces. Crests have the ability to | | | | shapes, colors and treatements available in |
| look great together when you have a grouping | | | | Fenton Crests. Definitely take the time to |
| of the same color crest and the accent color | | | | check them out. Additionally, you can |
| of the crest makes them really stand out. | | | | supliment your research by browsing the |
| | | | crests section on ebay. They have some great |
| 3. Give yourself a challenge. If you know | | | | pieces to look at on there. Just be careful |
| anything about Fenton or crests you will | | | | you don't spend too much money. |
| probably notice that patterns that I listed | | | | |
| above are pretty scarce. However, the | | | | Ultimately, when it comes to collecting |
| challenge is part of the fun. For every | | | | crests you need to buy what you love. I have |
| hundred pieces of Silvercrest that you see | | | | hundreds of crests and I am constantly |
| you might find a single piece of black crest. | | | | looking for the next great piece for my |
| That makes finding the blackcrest piece so | | | | collection. Who knows where I might find it |
| much more fun. Just be careful that you | | | | and what type of deal I might get. |