Embossing describes the name of the contents, manufacturer, state, city, dates, trademarks, and other valuable information. Embossed images and trademarks can also enhance and increase the value of the bottle.
Even with the above guidelines, it’s important to consult more detailed references, especially concerning rare and valuable bottles. Remember, never miss a chance to ask other collectors and dealers for advice and assistance.
Ceramics, Bottles And Glass Glossary
Abino Ware —A line produced by the Buffalo Pottery of Buffalo, New York. Introduced in 1911, this limited line featured mainly sailing ship scenes with a windmill on shore.
ABM (Automatic Bottle Machine) — This innovation by Michael Owens in 1903 allowed an entire bottle to be made by machine in one step. ABM bottles are identified by the seam going to the top of the mouth. By 1913 all bottles were manufactured by ABMs.
Applied Color Labels On Assorted BottlesACL (Applied Color Label) — A method of labeling or decorating a bottle by applying borosilicate glass and mineral pigments with a low melting point to the bottle through a metal screen and baking it in a furnace. The molten glass and pigment form the painted label.
Agate Glass — A glass made from mix incorporating blasting furnace slag. Featuring striations of milk glass in off-white tints, the glass has been found in shades of chocolate brown, caramel brown, natural agate, and tanned leather. It was made from the 1850 to the 1900s.
Agate Ware — An earthenware pottery featuring a mixture of natural colored clays giving a marbled effect. Popular in England in the 18th century.
Albany Slip — A dark brown slip glaze used to line the interiors of most salt-glazed stoneware pottery. Named for a fine clay found near Albany, New York.
Albino Line — A version of Griffen, Smith and Hill’s Shell & Seaweed majolica pattern with an off-white overall color sometimes trimmed with gold or with pink or blue feathering.
Albion Ware — A line of majolica developed by Edwin Bennett in the 1890s. It featured colored liquid clays over a green clay body decorated with various scenes. Popular for jardinieres and pedestals.
Amber-Colored Glass — Nickel was added in the glass production to obtain this common bottle color. It was believed that the dark color would prevent the sun from ruining the contents of the bottle.
Amethyst Violin BottleAmethyst-Colored Glass — A clear glass that when exposed to the sun or bright light for a long period of time turns various shades of purple. Only glass that contains manganese turns purple.
Annealing — The gradual cooling of hot glass in a cooling chamber or annealing oven.
Annealing Lehr — The common name given to an annealing oven, where finished glass was placed to gradually cool down.
All Over Pattern
BowknotAOP — All-over pattern; often found in descriptions to indicate a design that covers the entire piece rather than in just one location.
Applied Design — Ornamentation that is attached to the body or ground.
Applied Top
Improved Appplied Lip On A Three Piece Mold BottleApplied Lip/Top — On pre-1880s bottles, the neck was applied after removal from the blowpipe. The neck may be just a ring of glass trailed around the neck.
Aqua GlassAqua-Colored Glass — The natural color of glass. The shades depend on the amount of iron oxide contained in the glass production. Produced until the 1930s.
Architectural Form — The use of structural themes in the design of a piece of pottery. This type of design was used quite frequently during the Art Deco period and found form in art pottery.
Ashtrays — Ashtrays are rare in carnival glass.
BailBail — A wire clamp consisting of a wire that runs over the top of the lid or lip, and a “locking” wire that presses down on the bail and the lid, resulting in an airtight closure.
Banana BoatBanana Bowl, Banana Boat — this interesting shape is found usually on either a flat or collared base and is used to describe an oval bowl, usually with two opposing sides turned upward.
Barber BottleBarber Bottle — In the 1880s, these colorful bottles decorated the shelves of barbershops and were usually filled with bay rum.
Bas Relief — Literally “low relief,” referring to lightly molded decorations on ceramic pieces.
BasketBasket — This term refers to a small bowl, usually with a handle or up-turned edge. The form could be used for candy, nuts, flowers, or as a decorative piece.
Basket WeaveBasketweave — a design often found on the exterior of carnival glass patterns. The design consists of several rows of weaving, resembling a wicker basket.
Batch — the name given to the mixture of raw materials that are blended in a tank to make glass. The basic mixture consists of silica (sand), soda, lime, and sometimes cullet. Other ingredients are added to create colors.
Batch — A mixture of the ingredients necessary in manufacturing glass.
Battledore Flattens The Bottom Of A BottleBattledore — A wooden paddle used to flatten the bottom or sides of a bottle.
Berry BowlBerry Bowl — Used to describe both individual serving dishes and a master bowl used as a set to serve different kinds of berries. Often accompanied by a creamer or milk pitcher and sugar bowl.
Berry Sets — These were a staple of carnival glass production. They consist of a large bowl to hold berries and six matching individual serving bowls. Generally they are flat, but some patterns are known with feet. Edges may be crimped, ruffled, or plain.
Bisque or Bisquit — Unglazed porcelain left undecorated or sometimes trimmed with pastel colors.
Bitters BottleBitters — Herbal “medicines” containing a great quantity of alcohol, usually corn whiskey.
Black Glass 2Black Glass — A glass produced between 1700 and 1875 that is actually a dark olive-green or olive-amber color caused by the carbon in the glass production.
Blob SealBlob Seal — A way of identifying an unembossed bottle by applying a molten coin-shaped blob of glass to the shoulder of the bottle, into which a seal with the logo or name of the distiller, date, or product name was
impressed.
Blob Top Internal Thread
Blob Top Cork UseBlob Top — A lip on a soda or mineral water bottle made by applying a thick blob of glass to the top of the bottle. A wire held the stopper, which was seated below the blob and anchored the wire when the stopper was closed, to prevent carbonation from escaping.
Blown in Mold, Applied Lip (BIMAL) — A bottle formed when a gather of glass was blown into a mold to take the shape of the mold. The lip on these bottles were added later and the bases often have open-pontil scars. Side seams stop before the lip.
Blowpipe With Glass BubbleBlowpipe — A hollow iron tube wider and thicker at the gathering end than at the blowing end. The blowpipe was used by the blower to pick up the molten glass, which was then blown in the mold or free blown outside the mold. Pipes can vary from 2-1/2 to 6 feet long.
Blow-Over — A bubble-like extension of glass above a jar or bottle lip blown so the blowpipe could be broken free from the jar after blowing. The blow-over was then chipped off and the lip ground.
Bocage — A background of flowering trees or vines often used as a backdrop for figural groups, which were meant to be viewed from the front only.
Bocca — An opening on the side of the furnace where the pot was placed. The glass batch was placed in the pot where the gather was taken.
Bon Bon In Peach OpalescentBonbon, Bon Bon — bonbons are small, round, or shaped forms designed to hold candy or to be used as decorative pieces. Bonbons always have two handles.
Bone China — A porcelain body developed in England using the white ashes of bone. It has been the standard English porcelain ware since the early 19th century.
Borosilicate — A type of glass originally formulated for making scientific glassware.
Bouillon — Generally, a cup-shaped bowl for serving broth or clear soups; usually has handles.
Bowls — Bowls are made in a number of different styles and shapes and with different kinds of edges. An ice-cream shape bowl has an upturned rim and a slightly cupped shape. A bowl with a pie-crust edge refers to a bowl with an edge finished to resemble crimping found on the edge of pie. This simple technique was usually part of the mold, which did not require any further hand finishing.
Bowl, Ruffled — Another popular treatment to bowls was to ruffle the edges.
Bowl, Tricorn — This term refers to a three-sided bowl shape.
Breakfast Set — A small-sized creamer and sugar.
Bud Vase — A slender vase, designed to hold one blossom. They can be footed or flat, short or tall, but always have narrow necks.
Bruise — Identical to a “fish eye,” except that some bruises may be more transparent. A faint bruise is clearer, while a bigger bruise resembles the white eye of a fish.
Glass With Seeds Or BubblesBubbles/Blisters — Air or gas pockets that became trapped in the glass during the manufacturing process. The term “seed” is also used to describe these shapes.
Calabash — A type of flask with a rounded bottom. These bottles are known as “Jenny Lind” flasks and were common in the 19th century.
Calling Card HolderCalling Card Trays — Usually formed by adding a foot to a bonbon shape. Some have two sides turned inward and may have handles. The form was used to receive calling cards from visitors.
Camphor Glass — A white cloudy glass that looks somewhat like refined gum camphor. This glass was made in blown, blown-mold, and pressed forms.
Candlesticks — these are a rare form in carnival glass.
Carboys — Cylindrical bottles with short necks.
Casewear — Wear marks to the high points of embossing, sides, or base of a bottle due to contact with other bottles in cases while being transported.
Cheese and Cracker Set — Serving set often consists of a comport to hold cheese and large plate for crackers; forms differ. Sometimes a sherbet is used as a comport.
Cheese Dish — Serving dish, often with domed top, to cover a cheese wedge.
Childrens SaucersChildren’s Wares — Dish and tea sets designed to be used by children for play.
Chop Plate
Chop Plate Electric Purple.Chop Plate — Large, round, very flat plate. Usually 10 inches or larger in diameter. Can be used to serve portions of meat and fowl.
Cider Set — Consists of covered cookie jar (used to hold cider), tray, and roly-poly cups and ladle.
Clapper — A glassmaker’s tool used in shaping and forming the footing of an object.
Closed HandleClosed Handle — Solid glass handle.
Closed Mold — Bottle mold in which the base, body, shoulder, neck, and lip of the bottle all form at one time.
Cobalt Blue GlassCobalt Colored Glass — This color was used with patented medicines and poisons to distinguish them from regular bottles. Excessive amounts resulted in “cobalt blue” color.
Codd — A bottle enclosure that was patented in 1873 by Hiram Codd of England. A small ball is blown inside of the bottle. When the ball is pushed up by carbonation, it forms a seal.
Hiram Codd Lip
Hiram Codd Interior Ball Stopper
Coleslaw — A type of decoration used on ceramic figurines to imitate hair or fur. It is finely crumbled clay applied to the unfired piece and resembling coleslaw cabbage.
Collar Below LipCollar Base — A ring of glass on the bottom of a piece that raises it very slightly.
Comport / CompoteComport — Container used as a serving dish, open with handles, sometimes covered. In carnival glass form, they can be large or small, ruffled or plain, some have straight sides or flared rims.
CompoteCompote — Another name for comport.
Console Set — Decorative large bowl with matching candlesticks.
Contemporary — Carnival glass that has been made using iridized metallic surfaces in the last decade or two.
Cork Press — Hand tool designed to squeeze a cork into the required shape for use as a bottle closure.
Crackled Glaze — A glaze with an intentional network of fine lines produced by uneven contracting of the glaze after firing. First popular on Chinese wares.
Crazing — The fine network of cracks in a glaze produced by uneven contracting of the glaze after firing or later reheating of a piece during usage. An unintentional defect usually found on eathernwares.
Candy Ribbon EdgeCRE — Abbreviation used for candy-ribbon edge, a deeply crimped edge that resembles the ruffled candy.
Cream Soup BowlCream Soup — Bowl used to serve cream-type or chilled soups, usually has handles.
Creamware — A light-colored fine earthenware developed in England in the late 18th century and used by numerous potters into the 19th century. Josiah Wedgwood marketed his version as Queensware.
Crimped — A term used to describe an edge treatment where it looks as though the glass was pinched in regular intervals. A special tool is usually used to create this uniform effect.
Crown CapCrown Cap — A tin cap crimped tightly over the rolled lip of a bottle. The inside of the cap was filled with a cork disk, which created an airtight seal.
Crystalline Glaze — A glaze containing fine crystals resulting from the presence of mineral salts in the mixture. It was a popular glaze on American art pottery of the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Cullet — Clean, broken glass pieces that are recycled and added to the batch of glass. They can bring about rapid fusion to produce new glass.
Cup And SaucerCup and Saucer — Used to refer to place-setting cup and saucer; some patterns include larger coffee cup or more diminutive tea cup. Cup and saucer forms are rare in carnival glass.
Date Line — The mold seam or mold line on a bottle. This line can be used to help determine the approximate date a bottle was manufactured.
Decanter SetDecanters — Also known as wine decanters, wine bottles, or bottles with stoppers, these are a lesser-known form in carnival glass.
De-Colorizer — A compound added to natural aquamarine bottle glass to make the glass clear.
Demitasse Cup and Saucer — Term used to describe smaller cup and saucer used for after-dinner beverage.
Dimple — A small molded depression or hole in a bottle neck where a lever wire or a toggle enclosure is hooked.
Dip Mold — A one-piece mold open at the top.
Domino Tray — Tray used to hold sugar blocks shaped like dominoes.
Dope — The name given to the iridescent spray by early glassmakers. The spray consisted of a liquid solution of metallic salts applied to the hot glass form.
Dope House — A place where the mixing of chemicals for the dope metallic mixture took place.
Dresser SetDresser Sets — What constitutes a dresser set varies from pattern to pattern, but generally includes cologne bottles, perfume bottles, powder jars, hat pin holders, pin trays, and a larger flat dresser tray, allowing a lady to include carnival glass and it’s colors into her bedroom as well as her dining room.
Eared Handles — Handles applied to ceramic pieces such as crocks. They are crescent or ear-shaped, hence the name.
Earthenware — A class of fine-grained porous pottery fired at relatively low temperature and then glazed. It produces a light and easily molded ware that was widely used by the potteries of Staffordshire, England in the late 18th and early 19th century.
Eggcup — Stemware with short stem used to hold an egg, usually used with an underplate.
Electric Blue BowlElectric — Term used to describe shades of blue and purple that seem to have a brilliant electric quality to their iridescent finish.
Embossed Stars On A Three Panel BottleEmbossing — Raised letters or symbols formed in a mold. They typically identify the maker, contents, and trademark.
Epergne — Refers to an elaborate centerpiece form, usually consisting of a lily-shaped vase and a bowl or plate on a pedestal base.
Faience — A form of fine earthenware featuring a tin glaze and originally inspired by Chinese porcelain. It includes early Dutch Delft ware and similar wares made in France, Germany and other areas of Europe.
Fairyland Lustre — A special line of decorated wares developed by Susannah “Daisy” Makeig-Jones for the Josiah Wedgwood firm early in the 20th century. It featured fantastic or dreamlike scenes with fairies and elves in various colors and with a mother-of-pearl lustre glaze. Closely related to Dragon Lustre featuring designs with dragons.
Fire Polishing — The reheating of glass to eliminate unwanted blemishes.
FerneryFernery, Ferner, Fern Dish — This name refers to a footed dish that is round, with straight vertical sides. Some ferneries were made with removable liners.
Flambé Glaze — A special type of glaze featuring splashed or streaked deep reds and purple, often dripping over another base color. Popular with some American art pottery makers but also used on porcelain wares.
Flared Lip — A bottle whose lip has been pushed out, or flared, to increase the strength of the opening. These bottles were usually made before 1900.
Flash — A very faint crack that is difficult to see. The bottle must be turned in a certain position to see the crack.
Flashing — A method of coloring glass by dipping a bottle into a batch of colored glass.
Flint Enamel Glaze — A version of the well-known brown mottled Rockingham pottery glaze. It was developed by Lyman Fenton & Co. of Bennington, Vermont and patented in 1849. It featured streaks and flecks of green, orange, yellow and blue mixed with the mottled brown glaze.
Flint Glass — Glass composed of a silicate of potash and lead. Commonly referred to as lead crystal in present terminology.
Footed BowlFooted, ftd — Many pieces of carnival glass were made with feet, usually short and rather stubby, but they allowed a piece to be elevated off slightly.
Free Blown Bottle Lip
Free Blown Globular BottleFree-Blown Glass — Glass produced with a blowpipe rather than a mold.
Frosted Glass — Frosting occurs when a bottle’s surface is sandblasted.
Fruit Bowls — These are highly desirable forms of carnival glass. Often they are ruffled and found on separate bases.
Full Height MoldFull-Height Three-Piece Mold — A mold in which the entire bottle was formed in one piece. The two seams on the bottle run from the base to below the lip on both sides.
Gaffer — A term for the master blower in early glasshouses.
Gather — The name given to the glassmaker who scooped up molten glass which he used to fill a patterned mold.
Gather — The gob of molten glass gathered on the end of the blowpipe, which the glassmaker then expanded by blowing until it formed a bottle or other glass object.
Glass Pontil — The earliest type of pontil, in which a sharp glass ring remained after the bottle was broken off the pontil rod.
Glaze — The general term for vitreous (glass-like) coating fired onto pottery and porcelain to produce an impervious surface and protect underglaze decoration.
Glory Hole — The small furnace used for the frequent reheating necessary during the making of a bottle. The glory hole was also used in fire polishing.
Goblet — Stemware used to hold water.
Gravy BoatGravy Boat — A rare form in any glassware is a gravy boat.
Green GlassGreen Glass — Refers to a composition of glass and not a color. The green color was caused by iron impurities in the sand, which could not be controlled by the glassmakers.
Grill PlateGrill Plate — Dinner-sized plate with lines that divide the plate into compartments.
Ground Pontil — A smooth circular area of glass created after a rough pontil scar has been ground off.
Guest SetGuest Sets — Rare forms in carnival glass. The term is derived from the fact that a tumbler is combined with a small water pitcher. Many guest sets were designed so that the tumbler would serve as a lid when inverted over the top of the matching pitcher.
Handgrip PlateHand Finishing — When additional crimping or shaping was required, it was sometimes done by the glassmaker by using hand tools. If necessary, the piece was re-heated gently so that the metallic coatings would adhere properly.
Hard-Paste — Refers to true porcelain, a fine, white clay body developed by the Chinese and containing kaolin and petuntse or china stone. It is fired at a high temperature and glazed with powdered feldspar to produce a smooth, shiny glaze.
Hat — Refers to a shape found in many carnival glass patterns. The top edge may be flared, sometimes with one or two sides turned up. They have flat bases.
Hatpin — Carnival glassmakers enjoyed making unusual forms, often referred to as whimsies. One type of whimsy is a hatpin.
Hatpin HolderHatpin Holder — A slender vase-like holder was designed to hold hatpins on a lady’s dressing table.
Hobble Skirt Coca Cola BottleHobbleskirt — The iconic paneled shape with curved waist used to make the classic Coca-Cola bottle.
Hobnail — Pattern of pressed glass characterized by an all-over pattern of bumps that look like hobnail heads.
Hutchinson Stopper
Hutchinson Style Bottle 2Hutchinson Stopper — A spring-type internal closure used to seal soda bottles, patented by Charles Hutchinson in 1879.
Ice Cream Sets — These sets were popular in carnival glass production. They consisted of a cupped-shape bowl and six individual serving bowls, often footed.
Ice Lip On A PitcherIce Lip — Small piece of glass inside of top of pitcher to hold ice in the pitcher. May also mean a pinched lip that prevents ice from falling from a pitcher.
Icer — Vessel with compartment to hold crushed ice to keep main vessel cold, i.e., mayonnaise, cream soup, shrimp, etc.
Imperfections — Flaws such as bubbles, or tears, bent shapes and necks, imperfect seams, and errors in spelling and embossing.
Individual-Sized Pieces — Smaller-sized pieces, often designed for bed tray use. Not to be confused with children’s wares.
Iridescence — A stain found on an old bottle that has been dug from the ground. The stain has an opaline or rainbow color due to the minerals in the ground fusing with the glass. Therefore, this stain is very difficult to clean and usually remains in the glass.
Iron Pontil — The solid iron rod heated and affixed to a bottle’s base created a scar as a black circular depression often turning red upon oxidation. This is also referred to as a bare iron pontil or improved pontil.
ISP (Inserted Slug Plate) — Special or unique company names, or names of people, were sometimes embossed on ale, whiskey, and wine bottles, using a plate inserted into the mold.
Jack — A steel or wooden tong-like tool the gaffer used to manipulate hot glass.
Jack In The Pulpit VaseJack in the Pulpit (JIP) — This name refers to a hat, bowl, or vase that has one edge turned up and pointed, creating a collar form similar to the flower of the same name.
Keyed Mold — A variation of a two-piece hinge mold, in which the bottom mold seam is not straight but arches up at the middle of the bottle base.
Kick UpKick-Up — The deep indentation added to the bottom of a bottle. The indentation is formed by pressing a piece of wood or metal into the base of the mold while the glass is still hot. The kick-up is common on wine bottles and calabash flasks.
Laid On Ring Top
Laid On Ring LipLaid-On-Ring — A bead of glass that has been trailed around the neck opening to reinforce the opening.
Lady’s Leg — A bottle with a long, curving neck.
Carnival Glass LampLamp — Carnival glass manufacturers produced fluid lamps and later electrified lamps. Some married carnival glass elements to metal lamp parts such as brass and iron. Many ceramic manufacturers created lamp base forms, as well.
Lead Glaze — A shiny glaze most often used on cheap redware pottery and produced using a dry powdered or liquid lead formula. Since it would be toxic, it was generally used on the exterior of utilitarian wares only
Lehr — An annealing oven or furnace in which a new blown bottle was gradually cooled to increase its strength and reduce cooling breakage.
Lemonade Pitcher — This form is identified as a tall tankard pitcher and may be footed or have a collared base. When accompanied by tumblers or lemonade mugs, the forms become known as a “lemonade set.”
Lightning StopperLightning Closure — A closure with an intertwined wire bail configuration to hold the lid on fruit jars. This closure was also common with soda bottles.
Mayonnaise Liner In Delilah Bird PatternLiner — Underplate or under bowl used to accompany another piece, i.e., finger bowl or sherbet.
Two Light Candle holderLight (Lite) — Branch found on candlestick used to hold additional candles, i.e., two light, three light.
Lipper — A wood tool used to widen lips and form rims and spouts of pitchers, carafes, and wide-mouthed jars.
Lithophane — A panel of thin porcelain delicately molded with low-relief pattern or scenes that show up clearly when held to light. It was developed in Europe in the 19th century and was used for decorative panels or lamp shades and was later used in the bottom of some German and Japanese steins, mugs or cups.
Loving CupLoving Cup — This term is used to describe a stemmed vase with two or three handles.
Majolica JardiniereMajolica — A type of tin-glazed earthenware pottery developed in Italy and named for the island of Majorca. It was revived in Europe and America in the late 19th century and usually featured brightly colored shiny glazes
Manganese — A mineral used as a decolorizer between 1850 and 1910. Manganese causes glass to turn purple when exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Marie — A term given to the base of carnival glass, usually the base, where the glassmaker grips the glass during the iridizing process.
Married — (1) A close match or a duplicate of the original missing section or piece, such as a lid. (2) Carnival glass elements were sometimes incorporated into other forms using metal bases or stands. An example of this technique would be a bowl that is supported on a metal stem and base, creating an interesting compote form.
Melting Pot — A clay pot used to melt silicate in the process of making glass.
Metal — Molten glass.
Milk Glass Figural BottleMilk Glass — White glass formed by adding tin to the molten glass. Milk glass was primarily used for making cosmetic bottles.
Milk Pitcher — A pitcher, usually bulbous, that is larger than a creamer but smaller than a water pitcher.
Mission WareMission Ware — A decorative line of pottery developed by the Niloak Pottery of Benton, Ark. It featured variously colored clays swirled together and was used to produce such decorative pieces as vases and candlesticks.
Moil — Residual glass remaining on the tip of a blowpipe after detaching the blowpipe from the blown bottle.
Mold — The metal or wooden form used to shape glass into specific patterns. Molds could be one piece or hinged to allow easier access to the finished piece.
Moriage — Japanese term for the slip-trailed relief decorations used on various forms of porcelain and pottery. Flowers, beading and dragon decoration are typical examples.
Mug Mugs —Straight-sided drinking vessels with a handle. Many were used with punch bowls or designed as children’s feeding vessels.
Nappy — Shallow bowl used as serving dish, a candy dish or in a place setting; often has small handle.
Nappy
Nappy In Depression Glass
Nut Bowl — A small round bowl, sometimes footed, with a fluted or smooth upper edge that rises straight up.
Oil/Vinegar — Term used to describe a cruet or bottle with a stopper to hold oil and/or vinegar for salads.
Oplaescent Cranberry Red Barber BottleOpalescence — Opalescence is found on “frosty” or iridescent bottles that have been buried in the earth in mud or silt. The minerals in these substances have interacted with the glass to create these effects.
Open Mold — A mold in which only the base and body of the bottle is formed in the mold, with the neck and lip being added later.
Open Pontil — The blowpipe, rather than a separate rod, was affixed to the base, leaving a raised or depressed circular scar called a moil.
Orange Bowl — A large round, footed bowl, with a large opening that easily accommodates the display of oranges.
Owens Automatic Bottle Machine — The first automatic glass-blowing machine was patented in 1904 by Michael Owens of the Libby Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio,
Label Under GlassPainted Label — Abbreviation for Applied Color Label (ACL), which is baked on the outside of the bottle and was used commonly used on soda pop and milk bottles.
Paneled Bottle With Embossed StarsPaneled — A bottle that isn’t circular or oval and that is made with up to 12 panels.
Paste Mold — A mold made of two or more pieces of iron and coated with a paste to prevent scratches on the glass, thereby eliminating the seams as the glass was turned in the mold.
Pâte-sur-pâte — French for “paste on paste,” this refers to a decorative technique where layers of porcelain slip in white are layered on a darker background. Used on artware produced by firms like Minton, Ltd. of England.
Pattern Molded Globular BottlePattern Molded — Glass that was formed into a pattern before being completed.
Pearlware — A version of white colored creamware developed in England and widely used for inexpensive earthenwares in the late 18th and early 19th century. It has a pearly glaze, hence the name.
Pickle Dish — a small oval dish, usually flat with slightly curved up or ruffled sides.
Picture Frame — Picture frames in vintage glassware production are extremely rare. Researchers have questioned whether this design was intended as a picture frame as there is no way to secure a photo or hang the heavy piece. Few 8-inch square examples exist, some do have the circular device in the center removed and the edges neatly trimmed.
Piecrust Edge (PCE) — An edge that has a crimped edge on a bowl or plate that resembles the kind of crimps made in a pie crust. When Northwood used this edge, it was part of the mold, requiring no further shaping.
Pillow Vase — A form of vase designed to resemble a flattened round or oblong pillow. Generally an upright form with flattened sides. A similar form is the Moon vase or flask, meant to resemble a full moon.
Pin Tray — several carnival glass manufacturers made interesting small trays that were used to hold hair pins on a lady’s dressing table.
Plate Glass — Pure glass comprised of lime and soda silicate.
Plate, Hand Grip — The term “hand grip” is used to describe a plate that has one side turned down.
Plate Marigold Carnival GlassPlates — Plates are generally made by using a bowl mold and flattening the form. One rule that carnival glass collectors adhere to is that a bowl must be flat enough so there is a space of two inches between the table and the base of the form. Plate edges may be plain or crimped.
Platter — Small, medium, or large oval plate used to serve roasts and fowl.
Platter 
Platter With Dividers
PontilPontil, Puntee or Punty Rod — The iron rod attached to the base of a bottle by a gob of glass to hold the bottle during the finishing.
Pontil Mark — A glass scar on the bottom of a bottle formed when the bottle was broken off the pontil rod. To remove a bottle from a blowpipe, an iron pontil rod with a small amount of molten glass was attached to the bottom of the bottle. A sharp tap removed the bottle from the pontil rod, leaving the scar.
Porcelain Art Deco Wall PlaquePorcelain — The general category of translucent, vitrified ceramics first developed by the Chinese and later widely produced in Europe and America. Hard-paste is true porcelain, while soft-paste is an artificial version developed to imitate hard-paste using other ingredients.
Potstones — Flaws resembling white stones created by impurities in the glass batch.
Redware PitcherPottery — The very general category of ceramics produced from various types of clay. It includes redware, yellowware, stoneware and various earthenwares. It is generally fired at a much lower temperature than porcelain.
Pressed Glass — Glass that has been pressed into a mold to take the shape of the mold or the pattern within the mold.
Pucellas — Called “the tool” by glassmakers, this implement is essential in shaping both the body and opening in blown bottles.
PUG — An abbreviation for “printed under glaze,” referring to colored decorations on pottery. Most often it is used in reference to decorations found on Mettlach pottery steins.
Flask With Sunburst PatternPumpkinseed — A small round flat flask, often found in the Western United States. Generally made of clear glass, the shape resembles the seed of the grown pumpkin. Pumpkinseeds are also known as “mickies,” “saddle flasks,” and “two-bit ponies.”
Punch Bowl SetPunch Bowl — Punch bowls are a highly desirable form in carnival glass collecting. Most are two pieces, with a separate base. Sometimes the bases were designed so they could be used as open compotes when not supporting a punch bowl. Punch bowls range in size from small to quite large.
Punch Bowl Set — These sets consist of a punch bowl, base, and six or more cups.
Punch Cups — These are found in a variety of styles.
Radium: a term used to describe a mirror-like shiny surface, created when iridescent materials were applied to slightly cooler glassware.
Punt — A term used in the wine bottle trade to describe a kick-up or push-up at the bottom of the bottle.
Re-issue — One of the names used to describe carnival glass that has been made using original molds, sometimes by the original company, but after 1960, not during primary production years.
Relief-Molding — A decorative technique, sometimes erroneously referred to as “blown-out,” whereby designs are raised in bold relief against a background. The reverse side of such decoration is hollowed-out, giving the impression the design was produced by blowing from the inside. Often used in reference to certain Nippon porcelain wares.
Reproductions — These mean carnival glass that has been made in colors or forms other than those that were created by the original glass manufacturer.
Pitkin Flask In Medium Olive Yellow GlassRibbed — A bottle with vertical or horizontal lines embossed into the bottle.
Ribbed FlaskRibbed Back — Many forms have ribbed backs with vertical ribbing that usually radiates from the center.
Ring Handle — Figural round handle, ring-shaped.
Rocaille — A French term meaning “rockwork.” It generally refers to a decoration used for the bases of ceramic figurines.
Rolled Bottle LipRolled Lip or Finish — A smooth lip formed when the blowpipe was removed from the bottle. The hot glass at the removal point was rolled or folded into the neck to form and smooth out the top of the finish and to strengthen the neck.
Rose BowlRose Bowls — Small bowls identified by their cupped-in tops, often with additional crimping. They are usually round forms with an upper edge that is turned in toward the center or deeply ruffled.
Round Bottom — A soda bottle made of heavy glass and shaped like a torpedo. The rounded bottom ensured that the bottle would be placed on its side, keeping the liquid in contact with the cork and preventing the cork from drying and popping out of the bottle.
Ruffled — This term refers to when edges are slightly undulating.
Radium Ruffled Green Bowl
Ruffled Bowl
Salver — Large round plate used as serving piece.
Salt-Glazed Stoneware — A version of stoneware pottery where common rock salt is thrown in the kiln during firing and produces hard, shiny glaze like a thin coating of glass. A lightly pitted orange peel surface is sometimes the result of this technique.
Sanded — A type of finish usually on pottery wares. Unfired pieces are sprinkled or rolled in fine sand, which, when fired, gives the piece a sandy, rough surface texture.
Sandwich Server — Round plate, often with center handle (made of glass or metal) used to serve tea-type sandwiches.
Satin — The name given to a matte finish. It was created by applying metallic salts to very hot glassware.
Scant Size — Term for a bottle (normally liquor) referred to as a “pint” or “quart” but that actually held less capacity.
Seal — A circular or oval slug of glass applied to the shoulder of a bottle with an imprint of the manufacturer’s name, initials, or mark.
Seam — A mark on a bottle where the two halves meet caused by glass assuming the shape of the mold.
Servitor — An assistant to the master glassblower (gaffer).
Sang-de-Boeuf — Literally French for “ox blood,” it refers to a deep red glaze produced with copper oxide. It was first produced by the Chinese and imitated by European and American potters in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Sgrafitto — An Italian-inspired term for decorative designs scratched or cut through a layer of slip before firing. Generally used on earthenware forms and especially with the Pennsylvania-German potters of America.
Sheared Bottle LipSheared Lip — A plain lip formed by clipping the hot glass of the bottle neck from the bottle using a pair of scissors like shears. No top was applied, but sometimes a slight flange was created.
SherbetSherbet — Part of a place setting used to hold sherbet, often served with matching underplate about the same size as a saucer.
Sick Glass — Glass bearing superficial decay or deterioration with a grayish tinge caused by erratic firing.
SlipwareSlip — The liquid form of clay, often used to decorate earthenware pieces in a process known as slip-trailing or slip-quilling.
Slug Plate — A metal plate approximately 2 inches by four inches with a firm’s name on it that was inserted into a mold. The slug plate was removable, allowing a glasshouse to use the same mold for many companies by simply switching slug plates.
Bottle With Slug Plate Molding 
Slug Plate Lettering
Smooth Base — A bottle made without a pontil.
Snack Set — Plate or small tray with indent to hold punch or coffee-type cup.
Snap — The name of a glass-making tool that was attached to the marie to release the piece from its mold.
Snap Case — Also called a snap tool, the snap case had arms that extended from a central stem to hold a bottle firmly on its sides during finishing of the neck and lip. The snap case replaced the pontil rod, and thus eliminated the pontil scars or marks. It sometimes left grip marks on the side of the bottle, however.
Soft-Paste — A term used to describe a certain type of porcelain body developed in Europe and England from the 16th to late 18th centuries. It was used to imitate true hard-paste porcelain developed by the Chinese but was produced using a white clay mixed with a grit or flux of bone ash or talc and fired at fairly low temperatures. The pieces are translucent, like hard-paste porcelain, but are not as durable. It should not be used when referring to earthenwares such as creamware or pearlware.
Spatula Feet — these are small curved shapes, resembling spatulas, which flare out to act as feet.
Spooner — Small, often squatty, open vase-type vessel used to hold spoons upright. Typically, part of table set.
Spoon Tray — Small bowl-shaped vessel used to hold spoons horizontally, often oval. Often used on buffets, etc., to hold extra place-setting spoons.
Sprigging — A term used to describe the ornamenting of ceramic pieces with applied relief decoration, such as blossoms, leaves or even figures.
Squat — A bottle designed to hold beer, porter, and soda.
Stand — Base or additional piece used to hold punch bowl, etc.
Standard Glaze — The most common form of glazing used on Rookwood Pottery pieces. It is a clear, shiny glaze usually on pieces decorated with florals or portraits against a dark shaded background.
Stoneware CrockStoneware — A class of hard, high-fired pottery usually made from dense grey clay and most often decorated with a salt glaze. American 19th century stoneware was often decorated with slip-quilled or hand-brushed cobalt blue decorations.
Sweet Pea Vase — this term is used to describe a short vase with a wide mouth, usually found 10 to 12 inches high, but occasionally found from 16 to 18 inches high.
Swung Vase — this term is used when a vase is made using some molding processes. As it is being hand finished, the glass blower actually swings the hot molten glass to lengthen the vase.
Tab Handle — Small, solid-glass handle useful to grab bowl, etc.
Table Set — A covered butter dish, a creamer and sugar bowl, and spooner make up a table set.
Table Set — Name given to set of matching covered butter dish, creamer, covered (or open) sugar, and spooner. An extended table service may include syrup, toothpick holder, and salt and pepper shakers.
TankardTankard Pitcher — This term is used to describe a slender straight-sided cylinder-shaped water pitcher. This form usually has an applied handle.
Tapestry Ware — A form of late 19th century porcelain where the piece is impressed with an overall linen cloth texture before firing. The Royal Bayreuth firm is especially known for their fine “Rose Tapestry” line wherein the finely textured ground is decorated with colored roses.
3 In 1 BowlThree-In-One — A deep, ruffle edge that has a repeated effect with three ridges and a space.
Three Piece MoldThree-Piece Dip Mold — A mold that formed a bottle in three pieces that were later joined together. In this mold, the bottom part of the bottle mold is one piece and the top, from the shoulder up, has two separate pieces. Mold seams appear circling the bottle at the shoulder and on each side of the neck.
Tin Glaze — A form of pottery glaze made opaque by the addition of tin oxide. It was used most notably on early Dutch Delft as well as other early faience and majolica wares.
Toddy Set — Set consists of covered cookie jar (used to hold toddy), tray and roly-poly cups and ladle.
Tooled Top — A bottle with a top that is formed in the bottle mold. Bottles of this type were manufactured after 1885.
Toothpick HolderToothpick Holder — this term is used to describe a small container that was designed to hold toothpicks on a table. Several patterns in carnival glass include this form.
Torpedo Style Bottle In StandTorpedo — A beer or soda bottle with a rounded base meant to lie on its side to keep the cork wet and prevent air from leaking in or the cork from popping out.
Tumbler — Any footed or flat vessel used to hold water or other liquids. Specialized tumblers include ginger ale, juice, iced tea, lemonade, old fashioned, and whiskey. Tumblers are a common form in carnival glass.
Tumbler Bowknot 
Whiskey Bottle
Turn Mold Or Paste MoldTurn-Mold Bottles — Bottles turned in a mold using special solvents. The continuous turning with the solvent erased all seams and mold marks and added a distinct luster to the bottle.
Underglaze-Blue — A cobalt blue produced with metallic oxides applied to an unfired clay body. Blue was one of the few colors that did not run or smear when fired at a high temperature. It was used by the Chinese on porcelain and later copied by firms such as Meissen.
Utility Bottles — Multipurpose bottles that could be used to hold a variety of products.
Vase — Vases are one of the most popular forms in carnival glass. They can be pressed into molds and then finished either totally by machine or with hand finishing. (Also see swung vase.)
Water Pitcher — Carnival glass water pitchers were made in several styles. One form is known as bulbous because the base is usually quite round. Tops may be ruffled, crimped, or plain with a pinched pouring spout. Handles can be applied or mold pressed.
Water Sets — Water sets, consisting of a water pitcher and tumblers, are one of the most popular forms of vintage carnival glass. The pitchers may be either bulbous or tankard styles. The number of matching tumblers can vary, with the most desirable being six matching tumblers.
WCF — Wire Cork Fastener.
Wetting Off — Touching the neck of a hot bottle with water to break it off the blowpipe.
Whittle Marks — Small blemishes on the outside of bottles made in carved wooden molds. These blemishes also occurred when hot glass was poured into cold molds early in the morning, which created “goose pimples” on the surface of the glass. As the molds warmed, the glass became smoother.
Wine Set — Wine sets contain a stoppered wine decanter and serving glasses, usually stemmed wine glasses, cordial glasses, or small-sized tumblers.
WineWine — Term used to describe stemware that holds wine. Depression-era wines have a small capacity by today’s standards.
Wiped Top — A bottle in which the mold lines end before the top due to the neck being wiped smooth after the top was tooled onto the bottle. This method was used before 1915.
Xanthine Glass — Yellow glass achieved by adding silver to the glass batch.