This phrase refers to iridescent glassware, usually made as
pressed glass, which was first marketed in the U. S. in the
early 20th century. The phrase seems to have originated in the
1950s as collectors and writers heard stories about the
glassware having been used as prizes at carnivals in years past.
An Atlanta newspaper called Carnival glass “the Cinderella of
modern antiques” in 1963, and writers Marion Hartung and Rose
Presznick adopted the phrase in their many books describing
patterns and items that the glass collectors were finding in
antique stores and second-hand shops. The first “iridescent
ware” was produced and marketed by the Fenton Art Glass Co. in
the fall of 1907, and the company letterhead stationery said
“Originators of Iridescent Ware” for many years thereafter. The
glassware created an immediate sensation in the marketplace, and
other American glass companies soon began to introduce their own
versions. The colorful pressed glassware was available at prices
much, much lower than the fancy