Blackberry spray carnival glass. by Vintage Guy Rob

Blackberry Spray Carnival Glass stands as one of Fenton’s most beloved early patterns, and its appeal has only grown with time. Collectors chase it for its sculptural berry sprays, its dramatic shaping, and its wide color range. As we move through its origins, makers, and defining features, the pattern reveals why it remains such a cornerstone of American iridescent glass.

What Is Blackberry Spray Carnival Glass?

Blackberry Spray features raised sprays of berries and leaves arranged in two‑ or four‑spray layouts. The pattern appears most famously on hat‑shaped bowls and vases, and these forms shift beautifully from ruffled to crimped to two‑sides‑up. Because the shaping varies so much, collectors enjoy the thrill of finding new silhouettes.

The iridescent finish comes from metallic salts sprayed onto hot pressed glass. As the glass reheated, the surface bloomed into the rainbow sheen that defines carnival glass. This technique gave Blackberry Spray its luminous depth and its unmistakable glow.

Who Made Blackberry Spray?

Fenton Art Glass produced Blackberry Spray, assigning it pattern number #1216. The company also created related variations:

• Blackberry Banded
• Blackberry Spray Absentee Variant (#106) in stretch glass

Fenton’s mastery of color and form allowed Blackberry Spray to flourish across multiple decades and production styles.

When Was Blackberry Spray Invented?

Blackberry Spray predates the full rise of carnival glass. Production began before 1908, and the pattern appears in Butler Brothers catalogs by 1911, continuing into the 1920s. This places Blackberry Spray at the very front edge of the carnival glass movement, when American makers sought to offer an affordable alternative to Tiffany‑style iridescent art glass.

Even after carnival glass faded in the 1930s, Fenton kept the pattern alive in uniridized Depression‑era colors such as rose pink and emerald green.

What Colors Does Blackberry Spray Come In?

Blackberry Spray appears in a wide spectrum of carnival colors:

• Blue
• Green
• Marigold
• Amethyst
• Cobalt
• Red

Collectors also find it in:

• Opalescent shades
• Enameled milk glass
• Goofus finishes
• Depression‑era uniridized colors

The stretch‑glass variant (#106) expands the palette with amber, celeste blue, Florentine green, Persian pearl, royal blue, ruby, tangerine, topaz, Velva rose, and wistaria.

Collector’s Checklist: Blackberry Spray

Pattern Identification

• Two‑spray or four‑spray berry motifs
• Crisp leaf veins and rounded berries
• Most common on hat‑shaped forms
• Often mislabeled as “Wheat”

Shapes to Look For

• Ruffled hat
• Deep ruffle
• Two‑sides‑up
• Crimped hat
• Jack‑in‑the‑pulpit
• Small berry bowls
• Stretch‑glass shapes (#106)

Value‑Boosting Features

• Strong, even iridescence
• Deep, saturated base color
• Dramatic shaping
• Early, heavier molds

Common Pitfalls

• Misidentification
• Confusing uniridized colors with carnival
• Reproductions with soft detail

Color Rarity Chart

Very Common

• Marigold
• Blue
• Green

Common to Moderately Scarce

• Amethyst
• Cobalt
• Amber (stretch)
• Florentine green (stretch)

Scarce

• Red
• Royal blue (stretch)
• Tangerine (stretch)
• Velva rose (stretch)
• Topaz (stretch)

Rare

• Ruby (stretch)
• Persian pearl (stretch)
• Wistaria (stretch)
• Celeste blue (stretch)

Extremely Rare

• Enameled milk glass
• Goofus finishes
• Early uniridized Depression colors

Why Collectors Love Blackberry Spray

Collectors value Blackberry Spray for its sculptural forms, its broad color range, and its early place in carnival glass history. The pattern rewards both new collectors and seasoned experts, offering endless variation and genuine discovery.