How to Identify American Fostoria Fairy Lamps
Fairy lamps, often referred to as the "original night light," are candle lamps that became popular ways to light halls and nurseries in the Victorian era. Fairy lamps are about 5 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter. Though new fairy lamps are still produced by American glass companies today, those made by Fostoria Glass Co. during the early 20th century were of exceptional quality. They often had a raised pyramid pattern that was commercially successful and widely imitated by other manufacturers. American Fostoria fairy lamps can be identified with close inspection. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Identify the number of mold seams the fairy lamp has. Fostoria fairy lamps have three or more seams, while fairy lamps made by other manufacturers may have two seams.
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Look at the lamp's shape. American Fostoria fairy lamps have a deep curve and a flared top. Other manufacturers produced narrower fairy lamps with only a slight angle at the top.
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See whether the glass has a color to it. Most Fostoria fairy glass lamps are clear, but if your lamp has a cube pattern instead of a raised pyramid pattern, the color may be pink, green or ruby.
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Raise the fairy lamp to a light. Other manufacturers made glass with a cloudy or wavy surface, while American Fostoria glass is known for its fire-polishing process that produced glass with great clarity.
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Weigh the glass piece in your hands. Once you're familiar with the weight of a Fostoria fairy lamp, you'll notice they are heavier than those of other manufacturers because the glass is thicker.
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Feel the edges of the raised pyramid pattern. Fostoria glass has sharper edges. Other American glass companies like Home Interior and Montgomery Ward produced pieces with rounded edges.
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Check the bottom of the fairy lamp. American Fostoria fairy lamps and other pieces have a flat bottom that was ground down rather than pressed.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you've authenticated a Fostoria fairy lamp, inspect it for damages. Because Fostoria produced fairy lamps at affordable prices, they are still relatively common finds at antique shops, online or even flea markets.
