What is an Epergne?  It is a very fancy, elaborate, delicate candle holder or flower vase.

There are many varieties available; mostly European and mostly, quite expensive.  I will limit my guide to those made by Fenton Artglass Company.  Fenton has been making Epergne's for many years, starting in the mid 1940's.  Most of Fentons Epergnes are cast in White Milkglass; or, to a lesser extent, in colored milkglass, and Opalescent.  There are 2 Major glass patterns used by Fenton in this process.  First, and oldest, is the  Diamond Lace pattern; which consists of small hobnails overlayed on a background of cut lines, resembling crocheted lace.  This pattern dates back to the 1940's and was resurrected in the 1960's and early 1970's for special issues.  The second most popular pattern is simply HOBNAIL.  Everybody knows what hobnail is, so there is very little point in describing it. Lastly, Fenton produced SOME epergnes in plain, white milkglass, with no pattern.  Those epergnes made in Opalescent colors are quite rare and very expensive.

Fenton Epergnes generally come in 2 varieties.  The 4 piece variety consists of a bowl and 3 horns; and the 2 piece variey is a single horn and bowl.  The latter is adopted from early European Glassmakers.  The 3 horn variety, comes in 4 sizes; and, this is where confusion develops; because, the horns are NOT interchangeable between them!  The "normal" size bowl is ~ 8 1/2" in diameter, with 3 mounting holes in the bottom.  These holes are 5/8" in diameter and are designet to hold horns with that size base.  These bowls are also designed for use as candleholders; as 5/8" is a common base size for white Tapers.   Next is a "Mini" Epergne.  This has a bowl diameter of less than 6", and is designed to hold mini horns, which have a base diameter of 1/2", and are usually less than 6" in length.  Lastly, there is a "small" epergne, which has a bowl diameter of  slightly less than 8 inches, and is designed to hold horns with a base diameter of 1/2".  These are longer horns than are used with the Mini, as they will be 7 1/2" to 8" in length.

All of FENTONS Epergnes are designed to be used either with the horns, as flower vases; or, as candleholders with matching Tapers.  They are beautiful and very collectible in either configuration.  The horns are quite fragile and easily damaged or lost; and, you can no longer order replacements for them from Fenton.  The only source is from other collectors or dealers who have extra ones, usually from broken sets.  They are becoming quite expensive and difficult to find.

These Epergnes originally sold for less than $20, and were available from Fenton, all the way up to 2002.  Only the ones manufactured after 1972 will have the Fenton trademark embossed in the bottom of the bowl.  The others originally had a black and silver sticker with the Fenton name on it; but, most of those have long-ago disappeared.  It should be noted that Westmoreland also made a very limited number of Epergnes; and, they are almost identical to those by Fenton.  Most of Westmorelands epergnes are in their English Hobnail pattern; which is similar to American Hobnail; but the hobs are a bit larger and more pointed.  Most of Westmorelands epergnes have the letter "W" cast into the bottom of the bowl.

Collecting these pieces of art glass is a hobby in itself.  Some of them are quite scarce and difficult to find, especially in superb conditioon; as, the lips and tips of the horns tend to chip easily.  In the Fenton line, the colored glass versions are generally worth about twice as much as those in white; because, the issue quantities were much smaller and the production span very short.