Closeup photos are included to show the beautiful condition, molded detail, transparent yellow glass, split-tail design, and authentic raised Fenton mark. Any enlarged closeup views are meant to demonstrate the craftsmanship and condition of the piece, not to suggest flaws. Please review all photos as part of the description. No chips or cracks.
Rare vintage Fenton Hen on Nest glass covered dish in deep Black Amethyst Carnival Glass, featuring Fenton’s collectible 5-inch #5186 split-tail hen mold with an iridescent metallic finish that shifts purple, cobalt blue, teal, green, bronze, and gold in the light. This authentic Fenton Art Glass Hen on Nest is marked with the raised unnumbered Fenton script logo inside an oval, placing it in Fenton’s early carnival glass revival era and making it a standout piece for serious Fenton collectors, carnival glass collectors, farmhouse kitchen decor, grandmacore displays, and American pressed art glass collections.
RARE VINTAGE FENTON HEN ON NEST BLACK AMETHYST CARNIVAL GLASS COVERED DISH 🖤💜
Beautiful and highly collectible vintage Fenton Art Glass Hen on Nest covered dish in rich Black Amethyst Carnival Glass. This piece has a dramatic deep amethyst glass body with a luminous iridescent carnival finish that shifts beautifully in the light, showing flashes of purple, cobalt blue, teal, green, bronze, magenta, and gold.
This is Fenton’s desirable 5-inch Hen on Nest mold, ware #5186, featuring the classic split-tail hen lid, crisp molded feather texture, detailed comb, defined face, raised wings, and a matching nest base with a scalloped rim. The deep black-amethyst color gives the piece a bold, high-end display presence, while the carnival finish creates the “oil on water” shimmer collectors love.
The underside is marked with the raised Fenton script logo inside an oval. The mark is molded into the glass and does not show a decade number, which is an important collector detail. This identifies the piece as an authentic Fenton Art Glass example from the early molded-logo era, before the later decade-numbered marks.
Hen on Nest covered dishes have a long history in decorative tableware, with roots in 19th-century European and American covered dishes used for eggs, candy, sugar cubes, buttons, jewelry, and small household treasures. By the 20th century, the form became a beloved country kitchen and farmhouse collectible.
Fenton Art Glass brought this nostalgic form into the world of collectible American art glass with richly colored pressed glass and iridized carnival finishes. Fenton’s carnival glass history is especially important because the company was one of the names most closely associated with early American iridescent glass. These pieces were admired for giving everyday glass the look of expensive art glass, with shimmering color that changed depending on the light.
This Black Amethyst Carnival Glass Hen on Nest has particularly strong collector appeal because the glass can appear nearly black in normal room lighting, then reveal deep wine-purple, plum, violet, or magenta tones when held to strong light. That hidden color is one of the reasons black amethyst Fenton pieces are so desirable.
This piece has several strong collector features:
The color is the star of this piece. In regular lighting, it has a deep obsidian-black amethyst look. In stronger light, the amethyst glass reveals wine-violet and plum tones through the edges, while the surface flashes with carnival iridescence.
The hen lid is beautifully molded with detailed feather texture, a defined comb, expressive face, raised wings, and an upright split tail. The split-tail form creates the desirable open center detail at the back of the hen, giving the piece a more sculptural silhouette.
The base is a matching nest-style dish with molded basketweave texture and a scalloped rim that cradles the lid. Inside the hen form are the classic molded egg details associated with Fenton’s #5186 mold. The overall look is both functional and sculptural, making it perfect as a covered candy dish, trinket dish, display piece, or collector shelf centerpiece.
Approximate measurements:
Length: 5.5 inches
Height: 4.5 inches
Width: 4.25 inches
Depth: 4.25 inches
Collectors refer to this as Fenton’s 5-inch Hen on Nest size, even though the actual assembled length measures approximately 5.5 inches.
Exceptional vintage condition with beautiful iridescent color, strong molded detail, glossy shine, and no chips or cracks noted. The beak, tail, rim, lid edge, and inner base contact areas display wonderfully, which is especially important on Hen on Nest pieces because these two-piece covered dishes are often prone to tiny rim chips, flea bites, or wear from the lid resting on the base over time. As expected with vintage pressed Fenton glass, there may be normal mold lines, tiny air bubbles, straw marks, or light manufacturing irregularities from the original glassmaking process. These are part of authentic vintage pressed glass production and do not take away from the beauty or collectibility of the piece.
The underside is marked with the raised Fenton script logo inside an oval. The mark is molded into the glass and does not show a decade number, which is an important collector detail. This is consistent with Fenton’s early molded-logo era, before the later decade-numbered marks such as the “8” used for 1980s production. This makes the piece especially desirable for collectors who look for earlier marked Fenton carnival glass.
The unnumbered raised Fenton oval logo is consistent with Fenton’s early molded-logo era, most often associated with early 1970s production before later decade-numbered marks were used. Most likely 1970-1973.
I have more Fenton Hen on Nest pieces available in my shop, including other collectible colors and styles. Please take a look at my other listings if you collect Fenton Art Glass, vintage Hen on Nest covered dishes, carnival glass, black amethyst glass, farmhouse kitchen decor, grandmacore display pieces, or American pressed glass. These hens display beautifully together and make a wonderful grouped Fenton collection. YouBeYou LLC
YouBeYou LLC curates distinctive vintage, artisan, and collectible pieces chosen for character, craftsmanship, and enduring design. Our inventory focuses on objects that elevate a space — from rare statement décor to heirloom-quality finds that cannot be replicated by modern mass production.
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