Fenton Art Glass Company

The Fenton Art Glass Company (founded in 1905) is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. It is known for innovative glass colors, as well as hand-​painted decorations on pressed and blown glassware. The factory and company store is located in Williamstown (just across the river from Marietta) and is a source of pride amongst the West Virginians that I know. In fact, when I was in town a few years ago for a company meeting, a decorative piece of Fenton glass was waiting for me in my hotel room as an appreciation gift.
I’ve made it a point to visit the Williamstown facility whenever I’m in town. I was there again last week to look around. I didn’t have enough time time to take the factory tour, but I did try to take in all the glass selection that they offered. Between the firsts, seconds, the resident artist demonstration, and the available non-​Fenton collections (read the labels carefully), its all a bit overwhelming. And in the end I just couldn’t find a piece that either spoke to me or one that I could imagine sitting in my home. But I did find some cool Fenton marbles for the kid.