Above Left to Right, Tails of: Left: Fenton #5183, 9 inch Hen on smooth rim Nest, YOP: 1953-58; Center: Fenton #5182, 8" Hen on scallop rim Vallerysthal style Nest, YOP: 1967-present; Far Right: Fenton #5186, 5" Hen on the arched Nest, YOP: 1967-present |
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The colors of Fenton's Chick On Nest dishes manufactured during the 1950s, and again later in the early 2000s, often coincided with the color of that year's Chicken Server and/or #5183 Hen on Nest. Although infrequently produced, Fenton's Chick On Nest has been produced as recently as 1999 in Dusty Rose, and was special ordered by Martha Stewart's Martha by Mail to match the Hen Egg Plates she'd also special ordered in Mint Green and Shell Pink. |
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Over 100 companies are believed to have manufactured the more than 250 forms (shapes & sizes) of covered glass hen on nest dishes that are known to exist-thanks in great part to the seemingly tireless, comprehensive research of Mrs. Shirley Smith, a world renowned glass hen on nest expert, keynote speaker, and published author on this overall very broad topic. With so many covered glass hen on nest dishes, in so many forms, known to exist a significant number of them can almost always be found in the ever expanding online Secondary Marketplace, including eBay. Of the more than 250 forms (sizes and shapes) of glass hen on nest dishes known to exist, Fenton only made 5 Hen on Nest forms-using only 2 hen tops. Later, in the 1990s 2 moulds of covered Rooster Boxes were bought from other companies, and put into production by the Fenton Art Glass Company. Despite major restructuring within Fenton during the economic crash that hit America just prior to the closing of the company, Fenton's hen on nest dishes and roosters continued to be made in the USA, and a new logo was made stating the same. Hens and Roosters produced after 2008 are marked as usual with the addition of USA added to the embedded Fenton logo first quality wares are marked with. (12.03.12).
characteristics and features. Enthusiasts can benefit from observing, studying and learning to recognize the features of Fenton's hen on nest dishes and in doing so can learn to identify a hen on nest as Fenton, or not, from online photos.
dishes, its important to learn to observe the larger details and via this observation and study and learn to recognize the overall shape of Fenton's various hen on nest dishes, from their silhouette. Once familiar with the forms of Fenton's various hen on nest dishes, it should subsequently become easier and more enjoyable to find and study the finer, less obvious features of Fenton's hen on nest dishes, which we've addressed below. |
| Online listing errors for glass hen on nest dishes are fairly common. Knowledge is the best way to fight ignorance. |
Although the Internet provides a broad marketplace from which collectors can enjoy their pursuit of Fenton hen on nest collecting, caution and common sense must be used when trading online with Sellers, many for the most part who are strangers. Many hen tops in the 7 to 8 inch and 5 inch ranges are somewhat similar to Fenton's and often mistakenly listed online and on eBay for sale as "Fenton." Per eBay's Selling Rules for Brand name goods, it is the Seller is responsible for authenticating any item with a brand name, which Fenton is, used in the title or description of an eBay auction-prior to launching it. But, don't count on it! Many Sellers have "clauses" in their listings which try to make determining whether an item is Fenton the Buyer's responsibility when eBay's rules for listing items clearly say otherwise.
to determine what brand or make the hen is, and whether she was produced by Fenton-or not. Even the Gibson Overseas copy of the Fenton 8" hen on nest, which is considered a good copy has differences which can be used tell her apart from Fenton's 8" hen on nest. Such as her slightly smaller size, the top's rim design, and her base-for starters. More detailed information and photos of the Gibson Overseas copy are included at the bottom of this section. There are differences in the shapes of Fenton's hen on nest moulds that those who are familiar with Fenton's glass hen on nest dishes can identify by the quick study of a solid black silhouette of any of their hen on nest moulds. Once the (silhouetted) shape of Fenton's hen on nest dishes can be recognized and Fenton hen on nest moulds easily spotted in online photos, the subsequent study of the smaller, but equally important, features of Fenton's hen on nest moulds can be more easily addressed. It takes time and practice to learn to truly observe and then study anything, especially something as completely designed as an ornate, 2 piece glass hen on nest, with the study of said hen usually being done from a low resolution online photo. Base-8-1/2" X 6-7/8" Overall Measurements: 6.5" in Height, by 8.5" in length, by 7.5" width of the (base)
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| Fenton Hen on (smooth rim) Nest, #5183 YOP: 1952-1958 |
| Fenton 5" Hen on Nest, #5186 YOP: 1967-not retired as of 1/08 Shown: #5186 RX, Ruby Marble (slag) |
| Identifying characteristics can be found on both moulds (sizes and shapes) of hen tops produced by Fenton, and on the various Fenton bases used with these tops. Fenton's 8" hen top ware #5199, a copy of the 8" Atterbury Hen on Nest, was introduced with Fenton's Chicken Server in 1952, and used with two other different bases in subsequent years, is probably best renowned for having the big round eyes Fenton used to replace the glass eyes of the Atterbury hen top Fenton copied their first hen top from. At least one other hen top, excluding the Gibson Overseas Copy of Fenton hen on nest #5182, is known to have bulging eyes, however the remainder of the hen lacks many other features of Fenton's hen on nest dishes-most notably the tail and base which are very different from Fenton's. Fenton's 5" hen on nest #5186, is similar in style to other hen on nest forms in the 5" to 7" size range but with some easy to see identifying features. Fenton's very detailed 5" hen top sits on a distinctive base, which appears unique when compared to those of the other hen on nests. This base has sides made from 10 arches that rise to the upper rim, where they broaden slightly to form lovely petals on the #5186 nest's rim. Fenton claims as their own, completing a sweep of all Fenton hen on nest forms as having originated with Fenton. That is not the case with Fenton's roosters since many of them are produced from moulds bought or leased from other companies. |
| Below are representatives of the 6 Fenton Hen on Nest moulds, including their Chick on Nest dish. Fenton's 8" hen top #5199 is used with 3 different bases with each combination forming a new Hen on Nest ware. Study of the photos below and the differences in the features of the various combinations of Fenton's hen tops and bases produced and sold inline by Fenton from 1952 to present day may help your collecting become more rewarding. The more familiar a collector becomes with the overall appearance and distinctive details of Fenton's hen on nest dishes, the easier and more productive your online browsing for authentic brand name Fenton hens may become. The Sections in this Site for each Fenton Hen on Nest point out and illustrate many features and characteristics these hens are known for. Knowing what the different Hen on Nest dishes are can help your collecting create a Fenton Curio Coop to be proud of! |
| Fenton Chicken Server, #5188 YOP: 1952-1958 |
"Technically," the Gibson Overseas Copy of Fenton's 8" ware # 5182 Hen on the scallop rim Nest appears to possess many features and several criteria of Fenton's 8" hen on nest. However, a visible feature of Fenton's large hen on nest dish is lacking on the rim of the Gibson Overseas Copy. Although most eBay photos do not show the distinctive geometric design which decorate the circumference the rim of Fenton's 8" hen top's. Please see the section below about the Gibson Overseas Copy of Fenton's 8" Hen on Nest #5182 for photos and more information about them. Sometimes it is easier to prove a hen on nest is not Fenton by studying that hen on nest for a combination of features known to be consistent with Fenton's hen on nest dishes, and those that are not found on any Fenton hen on nest mould. Again, Buyers Beware pops into my mind! See the site's Section about GIBSON OVERSEAS COPIES & Marriages for details and photos. |
| Fenton 8" hen top Photos: Above left: Fenton 8" hen top from ware # 5188 GM, Fenton Chicken Server, YOP 1952, 1953. Upper right: Fenton 8" hen on the smooth rimmed base, ware # 5183 MY YOP, 1953. |
| Above & Below: Close-up of the face and eyes of ware # 5182 CN, Fenton's Carnival 8" Hen on (scallop rimmed base) & 5182 RN, a Red Carnival 8" Fenton Hen on (scalloped rimmed, basket woven) Nest, YOP 1996. |
| The 8" Atterbury hen top with red Glass eyes. |
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| Fenton revised their slightly larger copy of the 8" Atterbury Hen top which had slotted eyes for the application of glass eyes (photo left) with some interesting features, including molding big, bulging eyes that are void of detail into the glass, see the other photos above and to the right which show how Fenton efficiently replaced the slotted eyes of the original 8" Atterbury hen. |
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| Fenton Amethyst Body with Milk Glass Head on (smooth rim) Nest, ware # 5183 MY produced in 1953. |
| Searching for a 1950s Fenton Chicken Server, a Fenton Hen on a basket woven smooth rim Nest, one with a scallop rim nest, or a contemporary Fenton Hen Egg Plate? If so, Fenton's large hen has you covered! The eyes (& more!) have it! |
| Among one of the most readily visible, and interesting characteristics of Fenton's 8" hen on nest top are her big, bulging eyes, a renowned characteristics of the 8" Fenton Hen Top, #5199, has been used with 3 Fenton different bases since her debut in 1952. The big, bulging round eyes Fenton's 8" hen top are void of all detail, including eyelids, unlike the eyes of many other hen tops in that rough size range, many of which have detailed eyes and even eyelids. However, the rather uniquely "styled" eyes of Fenton's 8" hen top can be easily seen and point towards the hen being Fenton, since not eyes such as these are not often seen on other covered hen on nest dishes of any size. The shape of the eyes of Fenton's #5199 Hen top when studied from various views, such as those shown in the photos of Fenton's 8" hen top included below. Big bulging eyes, although not as round as Fenton's, can also be found on the Gibson Overseas Copy of Fenton's ware #5182, their 8" hen on the scallop rim nest. This topic is discussed below on the page, Gibson Overseas Copy, since Gibson missed their mark on copying the intricate geometric rim design of Fenton's 8" hen tops, opting instead to use diagonal slashes that all run in the same direction. Although this hen top, ware #5199, was first used in 1952 as the crowning glory to Fenton's Chicken Server when Fenton unveiled her, in subsequent years Fenton used their 8" hen top with their smooth rimmed Challinor style base from 1953-1958, again in 1967 with a new, scalloped rim Vallerysthal style base, and in 1995 for the re-release of their first hen on nest, the Chicken Server, which they renamed the Hen Egg Plate. To the best of our knowledge, as of January, 2009 the # 5182 Fenton hen on the scalloped rimmed base, and the #5188 Hen Egg Plate have not been retired. The now renowned bulging eyes of the Fenton's 8" hen top came to be when Fenton developed their first hen top for the 1952 debut of their first hen on nest, in the form of a massive Chicken Server. Fenton's first hen top was a copy of the 8" Atterbury Hen Top in a heavier 9" size. And, the 8" Atterbury hen top had slotted eyes, for the application of glass eyes, which Fenton replaced simply with big bulging "blobs" for eyes, void of all detail and eyelids, which are molded into the moulds used for the production of that Fenton hen top. Even if a potential buyer is not familiar with all the characteristics of the large Fenton hen on nest dishes, such as the numbers, sizes and positions of their eggs, checking for those big, round eyes can provide an especially useful start for those looking to purchase the large Fenton hen on nest dishes, manufactured prior to 1972 when Fenton began marking wares with logos permanently embedded into the glass. Many photos, and much more information about the Fenton's hen on nest dishes made with the 8" Fenton hen top, including measurements, the colors they came in and when these colors were produced, which should be marked with Fenton's embedded logo and which should not, are included in separate sections for each form of hen on nest made by Fenton. Please use the links to go to those pages. Since Fenton's first hen top was introduced in 1952, her interesting, overly simplified eyes, have become one of the key distinguishing factors for determining which hens in the 7 to 9 inch size range may actually be the Fenton brand, although this is not by any means the sole criteria for identifying Fenton's large hen tops. To confirm her identity, maker or brand name, one should study the remainder of the hen top, such as the style and angle of her tail, the number of her eggs and their positions around the hen, the type of rim and decorative pattern, if any, and of course the type of base she sits on. The only Fenton hens, as of January 2009, known to have been used on basket-woven bases are the 8" Fenton hen tops. |
| The Atterbury 8" hen top clearly showing her red glass eyes, which prior to being applied were simply slots in the glass hen's face. When developing their copy of the Atterbury Fenton replaced the slots with the now renowned, big bulging eyes of the 8" Fenton hen top. |
| Another important distinguishing characteristic of Fenton's hen on nest forms, which can be clearly seen in most photos, is the respective designs of the "split tails" of Fenton's 8 inch and 5 inch hen tops. Both of Fenton's hen tops, their 5" and 8" hen tops, feature tails designed with the split tails. Although there are very notable differences between the tails of Fenton's 8 and 5 inch hen tops, both have split tails with rounded rear edges, and no indentations on the tail. The easiest way to describe a split tail, including those of Fenton's hens, is a tail that's been designed to create a more dimensional image, by the use of the "split tail." This type of tail splits from a single point at the top of the tail, into two sides of the tail which widen as they make their way down to the base of the tail. Fenton's hen tops feature a pair of prominent eggs, with an egg positioned on each side of the base of the tails of Fenton's hen tops. The resulting shape resembles an inverted "V" which is easy to see when the tail is viewed from behind. The photos below illustrate the split tails of the only moulds used for the hen on nest dishes produced by Fenton as of January 2008. Many hens have split tails, but the tails of Fenton's hen tops also have another distinguishing trait, they are smoothly curved with no feathered indentations, or scalloped edges on either edge of the Fenton hens' tails. The tails of Fenton's large and small hen tops all feature what are called "split tails" which are also present in varying forms on the large and small Fenton Rooster boxes, covered in the Rooster Box section. |
| This cobalt hen with a split tail and a scalloped affect along the rear edge of the tail, as well as molded details of the feathers disqualified as being a brand name Fenton hen on nest. This can also be seen in the photo the scalloped cobalt tail to the right for comparing to those of Fenton's. |
| Quick differences noted between Fenton's and the Indiana hen on nest which has no eggs, no split tail, a scalloped tail, no turn to head or neck, a beaded rim design on the base...and so much more! |
| Below left is a close-up of a non-Fenton Cobalt hen top tail frequently listed as Fenton on the Secondary marketplace. Notice how the tail of the cobalt hen features a "scalloped" or "sculpted feather" appearance along the outer edge of her tail. This scallop effect is quite clearly visible in the photo of the same brand of cobalt hen on nest shown to the far left. The cobalt hen on nest is very different in style from Fenton's, and the shape of her tail, and the details of her face are unlike any of Fenton's hen on nest dishes. Compare the shape and edges of the cobalt blue tail of the non-Fenton hen on the far left, to Fenton's hen tops' tails shown to in the center and on the right. A Fenton 8" hen's tail is pictured below center with the painted Daisies on it. To the far right is the tail of a Fenton 5" hen on nest. Note how the edges of both of Fenton's hen tails are smooth and without any indentations. Also note how the 5" hen's tail rises more steeply than the 8" does and has an overall different shape to it, although they are both split tails. |
| These photos show the heads and faces of Fenton's 5" Hen on Nest, ware #C 5186 8L* from 1997, in Iridized Dusty Rose with a Milk Glass Head, and Fenton's 8" Hen on Nest in Carnival, ware #5182 CN, from 11971. Differences that may not be clearly evident are easier to see when viewed next to each other. These are just some differences between their heads and faces! NOTE: Items made for QVC have the letter "C" prefix in front of the ware #. The eyes of Fenton's 5" hen top, (shown on the left side of the photos), and many other hen tops in the 5 to 7 inch range are well detailed, often complete with pupils and eyelids. However, Fenton's big gals, with their 8" ware #5199 hen tops (shown in many views in the sections below & in above righr Carnival) do not have detailed eyes, but instead big, round bulging eyes that are void of all detail. |
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| The Cobalt Hen below is not Fenton although this mould is frequently seen incorrectly listed in online selling venues, including on eBay, as Fenton when clearly it is not. Note the scalloped appearance to the rear edge of her tail & the lack of bulging eyes, egg alignment & pattern around the hen top's rim all of which are not as the features seen on Fenton's hen on nest dishes. |
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| True or False? |
| All hens are chickens. But not all chickens are hens. |
| Its true! Roosters are chickens too. Hens are female chickens and roosters are males. Okay, that was simple. |
| Fenton's 8"Milk Glass Hen on Nest #5182 MD is the only Fenton 8" hen on nest painted in any way. The comb, cluck, face and eyes of this hen have been painted, with a 5" Hen on Nest #5186 MD done to match. Only painted 8: hen on nest by Fenton to date. (4.09) |
This especially gorgeous slag combination of Fenton's 5" Hen on Nest was special ordered by Levay during 1984. Of interest is that this was the same year Levay special ordered their large Rooster Box in the same, brilliant coloring from Westmoreland. At that time Fenton did not have any viable Rooster moulds. |
| Features & Distinguishing Characteristics of Fenton brand Hen on Nest Moulds made from 1953-2012 |
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| Tail Talk |
| Above photos: On the near left is a close-up of a non-Fenton Cobalt hen top tail. Notice how the tail of the cobalt hen features a "scalloped" or "sculpted feather" appearance along the outer edge of her tail, also visible in the photo of the same cobalt hen shown on the left. The cobalt hen on nest is very different in style from Fenton's, and the shape of her tail, and the details of her face are unlike any of Fenton's hen on nest dishes. Compare the shape and edges of the cobalt blue tail of the non-Fenton hen on the far left, to Fenton's hen tops' tails shown to in the center and on the right. The center photo is of the Fenton tail from the 8" Fenton hen top used on the Limited Edition Hen Egg Plate from 1995, Ware # 5188 YZ. It was hand painted in one of Robin Spindler's many beautiful, decorative patterns, called "English Daisy." This 8" Fenton hen top is known for her bulging eyes. (see top of page) To the far right is a photo of ware #5186 LR, the 5" Fenton hen on nest, in Misty Blue's tail. Although the tail of the 5" Fenton hen top rises more steeply from the back, it too is smoothly curved, and without a scalloped appearance. |
| Although Fenton retired their wonderfully impressive Chicken Server after a fairy short run in from 1952-1957, this was more of a lengthy lay-off than a permanent retirement. In 1995 Fenton re-issued their Chicken Server as a signed and numbered Limited Edition of 950 hand decorated pieces, and the new name of Hen Egg Plate. Just a few years later Fenton again issued a Hen Egg Plate as a Limited Edition, again decorated with a beautiful painted design. In the years since the Hen Egg Plate's revival she has been produced in some especially appealing colors, many by special orders by companies such as Rosso such as Topaz Opalescent-(aka Vaseline) and most recently in Fenton's hit of 2008, Chameleon. Martha Stewart's Martha by Mail also ordered Hen Egg Plates from Fenton in Jade and Pastel Pink. |
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Below are photos from the rear of the "split tails" from each form of Fenton's hen tops. Note how each tail has an appearance similar to an inverted "V" as opposed to tails made of a single, solid piece of glass. These differences can be seen when compared to the Indiana hen on nest shown to the left in blue carnival, and below in white. The 8" Fenton hen top used for ware # 5183 and # 5812 was first used with Fenton's Chicken Server, produced from 1952-58, and the more contemporary Fenton Hen Egg Plate, produced from 1995 to Fenton's closing in 2011. Although a bit difficult to see in these photos, note the eggs located on either side of these Fenton hen's tails. Please refer to the separate Sections about each Fenton hen on nest form, as well as those regarding Fenton's Rooster Boxes, for more details, and lists with photos of the colors they are known to have been produced in. |
Please have patience as the site, its pages & many photos load.
Because none of L. G. Wright hens were marked, and with several companies including Fenton known to have produced the custard hen on nest dishes for L. G. Wright, it can be very difficult to convince a vendor that a hen such as the one pictured here in cobalt is from an L.G. Wright mould, and not a "pre-logo" or "unmarked" Fenton. This cobalt hen on nest is not a "pre-logo" Fenton, it is an L. G. Wright, made from L.G. Wright's mould, their choice of glass color and type, with the absolute intention of these wares being marketed by L. G. Wright as an L. G. Wright hen on nest. The L. G. Wright hen on nest mould lacks many attributes of Fenton's hens, such as the design and style of the hen top's tail with its scalloped rear edge, its detailed eyes, and its base which also differs greatly from those used by Fenton. Although the base/nest used with L. G. Wright's 7" hen on nest mould is a basket-woven style, their base is very different from Fenton's basket-woven bases. Fenton's basket woven bases have a different count to the under and over pattern of the basket-weave than the bases used with the 7" L.G. Wright hen on nest base shown here. It should be noted that Mosser bought the moulds for the 7" L.G. Wright hen on nest at Wright's going out of business auction in 1999. Within a few months Mosser put their new mould into production, which fortunately Mosser marks their logo of the "M in the outline of the state of Ohio" located on the inside of the 7" hen top. For more information about L.G. Wright's hen on nest dishes, and somewhat of a controversy about who made them, and whether their actual makers are known, or can be distinguished, please see the information below. |
| Enjoy the Art of Online Collecting~ For Collectors, by Collectors. |
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| Fenton followed Mother Nature's lead on this and Fenton hens and roosters, while both correctly called chickens, do have their visible differences. The Fenton hen tops feature 6 eggs molded around the hen on the top, while the boys that top Fenton's Rooster boxes, (or covered roosters dishes) do not have any eggs present, but do have the typical, showy "rooster tails" which is proportionately larger and more curved than the hen top's plainer style of tail. Shown below is Fenton's Rooster Box, with this one done in Burmese & painted with tiny flowers, ware #4680 Q9, from 2006. Note the large showy tail, large crown & lack of eggs! Rooster box=6 1/2" tall, 8 1/2" long, 5 1/2" wide. |
| This brief introduction is to help familiarize fellow enthusiasts with the appearance of Fenton's various hen on nest forms, while also providing general information about Fenton's hens, and other issues relative to collecting them via the Internet when many other hen on nest, and glass covered chicken dishes are listed as Fenton, while being anything but. Large photos, with close-ups of details, measurements, and information about the interesting features and characteristics of each mould shown here can be found in the separate Section designated for each of Fenton's hen on nest dishes and rooster forms. Because all Fenton roosters should be marked, its Ladies First! |
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| Although Fenton's hen on nest moulds are claimed by Fenton as their own, copies of Fenton's 8" hen on nest, and their Hen Egg Plate were manufactured in one color similar to Jade by Gibson Overseas. Many features found on Fenton's 8" hen tops are present on the Gibson Overseas copy-yet although close to Fenton's design a close inspection of both hens reveals obvious differences between the two. The clearly visible differences between Gibson's copy of Fenton hen on nest #5182 and the The Gibson Overseas Copy seems to lack substance and appears "flatter" than the authentic Fenton hen and lacks the rim design of Fenton's authentic 8" Hen tops, instead having crude slashes all going in one direction. Although the deflated appearance of the Gibson Overseas Copy of the Fenton 8" hen on nest could be argued as being simply a subjective difference, that is not true. There are many differences between the copy and the original that become immediately apparent when seen in person. One of the most apparent differences that is clearly visible between the two is the lack of the geometric design Fenton incorporated into the outside rim of their 8" hen top. Unlike, Fenton's fairly intricate design, with lines evenly spaced and placed in a pattern, there are randomly space diagonal slashes on the Gibson Overseas hen top. |
| Fenton on (scallop rim) Nest, ware # 5182 This big gal is a combination of Fenton's 8" Hen top ware #5199 & Base #5181 |
Tail's angle leaves back
at flatter degree than
most glass hen tops.
at flatter degree than
most glass hen tops.
| The very impressive 8" Hen top, such as the one in Red Carnival shown below originated as a copy of the 8" Atterbury Hen Top by Fenton. This hen top was developed by Fenton and known as Fenton Hen Top ware #5199. This hen top was produced throughout the 1950s- used with Fenton's large, 12" long Chicken Server, a year or so later with Fenton's Challinor Style smooth rimmed Nest, for a more conventionally styled HON, Fenton Hen on Nest #5183, and nearly a decade after her semi-retirement Fenton Hen top #5199 was again back in Fenton's line, on a Vallerysthal scallop rim base & finally again in 1995 again paired with the 12" long egg platter, and with the new name of Fenton Hen Egg Plate, #5188. Almost a decade after the 8" Hen on the smooth rimmed Nest #5183 was retired, Fenton revised their 8 inch Fenton Hen on Nest by changing the base to a scallop rimmed Vallerysthal type base, with was released it as Hen on Nest #5182, featuring the familiar 8" Fenton Hen Top #5199. This hen top, a copy of the 8 inch Atterbury Hen top, underwent some interesting changes before Fenton began producing her their own. Fenton replaced the empty eye slots of the Atterbury Hen top copy, used by Atterbury for the insertion of glass eyes with big, bulging eyes in the mould, which later became one of the renowned identifying features of Fenton's large hen tops. |
| CLOSEUP OF THE 5" HEN TOP OF WARE #5186 & THE 8" FENTON HEN TOP MADE FROM THE ATTERBURY COPY The face and eye details of Fenton's 8" Hen on Nest, ware #5182 CN, in Carnival from 1970-1974. The original Atterbury Hen top Fenton copied for the development of Fenton's first Hen top, featured empty eye slots which Fenton solved by making big, bulging eyes. The big bulging eyes of Fenton's large Hen Tops have since become a renowned identifying trait for Fenton's large 8" hen tops, and their lack of eyelids and details, is more than made up for with Fenton's hen top from their 5" hen on nest #5186 which clearly has detailed eyes, as shown in the photo to the left.--------------------------------->>>>>> Closeup of the very detailed face of the #5186 5" Fenton hen on nest. Note the detailed almond shaped eyes with eyelids, pupils and other details, which Fenton's hen top from their 8" hen on nest #5182 clearly lack, as shown in these 2 photos.<<<----------- |
| Big round bulging eyes---> beak with mouth-> wattle for hen-> |
| <-thick neck slight turn to left at head & neck junction |
| Realistic hen's comb-front made up of rows, back of head covered with rounded |
Fenton's first Hen on Nest form sold as the Fenton Chicken Server, ware #5188 in 1952. A year later the same Hen top to crowned Fenton's more conventional 8" Hen on Nest, ware #5183, using a Challinor type smooth rimmed base. After nearly a decade long semi-retirement from early 1958 to 1967, the 8" hen top was again added to Fenton's line, this time on a Vallerystahl base, introduced in Milk Glass in 1967. Measures: Nest bowl 8 x 11 Hen top 7 ¼ x 4 ¼ in tall. Total height- 7 in tall x 9 ½ across at widest. Fenton's massive 8" Hen Top #5199 features a slightly turned, fairly large, proportionate head, a rather stout neck, with well defined cowl, fairly for a hen. Fenton Hen Top #5199, like her smaller 5" sister who tops Hen on Nest #5186, features a total of 6 eggs. 4 front and 2 in the rear.A total of 6 eggs, arranged in two pairs and two singles of varying sizes are molded to the hen. A pair of eggs consisting of two different sizes is located near the left front of the hen, a smaller pair is on the right front, and 2 single eggs of the same size are located on either side of the tail. An intricate geometrical design decorates the circumference of the hen top #5199's rim. As with all Fenton's hen tops, this Hen Top has a split tail which rises at a fairly flat angle from the back. There are no indentations along either edge of the tail's smooth edges, including the rear. The tail departs the back at a much flatter angle with a broader end to the tail than that of the smaller 5" Fenton hen top. The tail of the large Fenton hen leaves the back at a much flatter angle than the 5 " Fenton Hen, who's tail leaves at a much steep angle. As with all of Fenton's hen on nest dishes, the #5182 has a smoothly curved tail, void of any indentations on either edge. |
| Different logos were used by Fenton, with each having its own meaning, or reason, for its use. The center of the underside of the base shown on the left is where the logo shown in the photo on the right is placed. Originally, Fenton produced what is reported to have been about 350 #5182 CN, 8" Carnival "Gertrude" Hen on Nest dishes with the name "Gertrude" added to the embedded logo on the underside of the base. The mould was reported to have broken with less than 300 hens made, and was replaced with the mould not using the Gertrude name. That's an amazing story, but remember Fenton produced their first #5182 Hen on Nest dishes in Milkglass, none of which were marked "Gertrude." Just food for thought... and we are lucky to have 2 of the Marked "Gertrude" 5182 CN Hens on Nests. Note-The red logo is marked "Fenton" & USA! |
| Fenton 8" Hen on Nest #5182 RN, Red Carnival, YOP:1996. A total of 6 Eggs are on the hen top. An intricate geometric design is on the circumference of the hen top's rim. Cowl has rounded feathers overlaid on the breast. This tail departs back at fairly flat angle & is broad with slightly rounded tip. |
| Spilt tail from rear. Larger eggs on either side of tail. |
| The design of this hen's crown starts just above the beak, running down the center of the head. The rows of the front turn to round "balls" which cover the area from the center of the head down to the rear of the head, with a more linear start from of the comb at the font of the head. The rear of the neck, or cowl area, which finishes the crown. |
| <----Cowl has rounded feathers overlaid on the other feathers. |
| tail departs the back at fairly flat angle.---> |
| Fenton's 5" hen on nest dishes are shown below in Cobalt, #5186 KN from 1999, and in Milk Glass with a Blue Royale Head, ware #5186 EU, from 1989, as part of the Elizabeth Collection. This is not a limited edition, but the Elizabeth Collection was named in memory ofFrank Fenton's wife Elizabeth, who was reported to favor the combination of Milk Glass and Fenton's Blue Royale. Although similar to cobalt, Blue Royale is different in appearance with an almost richer blue coloring to it and also appearing to be cased in clear-despite the photos below which don't support the individual beauty-and color of the blue. Please note how very detailed Fenton's 5" hen top is. She, like her 8" Fenton sisters, also has 6 eggs with two on each side of the front, and one on each side of the tail. Fenton's 5" hen top has very realistic face, with a well formed beak, comb, and wattle, and very detailed eyes-complete with pupils and eyelids-which Fenton's large 8" hen tops do not have. These are the large hen tops used with Fenton's Chicken Servers, Hen Egg Plates, and on two versions of basket woven bases-the smooth and scalloped rimmed. |
| made. The earliest to have been made was in the 1950's, with a smooth rim base, which was changed to the scallop rimmed Vallerysthal style base introduced with the same hen top in 1968, in Milk Glass. Fenton's revised large, 8" hen on nest introduced in 1967 features a basket-woven base with a scallop rimmed top. The 8" Fenton hen top was used on both the Challinor style smooth rimmed basket woven base of the 1950s (shown above), and the Vallerysthal style scalloped rimmed basket woven base Fenton introduced in 1967 (shown to the right), as well as on the Chicken Servers of the 1950s (see top of page), and the Hen Egg Plates made from 1995 to present day 2011 had not been retired, when Fenton ceased making new wares. |
| Although the 5" Fenton hen on nest is similar to those in that size range made by other makers, Fenton has always been produced their 5" hen on nest with a beautiful base, featuring 10 arches forming the sides, which broaden slightly on the upper rim. The base features a centered starburst with the Fenton logo embedded in the center, when applicable. There were no other contemporary bases used by other companies of the same form as Fenton's, which Fenton family members have claimed as their own, with various anecdotal stories of how it came to be, furthering this point in print media, published books, and on TV's QVC Show. The unique nest for the 5" Fenton hen on nest is attributed to Fenton, despite some controversy about it. Fenton Art Glass has openly staked their claim to this base and hen top combination, and maintained it as their own, despite some controversy surrounding its actual origins. |
All Fenton hen tops, large and small, feature 6 eggs and split tails. Fenton's hen top tails are also smoothly curved, and lack any indentations along either edge of the tail. Many non-Fenton hens have these scallops, or indentations along the edges of their tails, as shown in the photos below. |
| A single feature may not automatically qualify a hen as being an authentic Fenton brand hen-or rooster. Yet, some single features can disqualify a hen on nest from being Fenton-in record time! |
- Learning to recognize which of the 250 covered hen on nest & rooster dish forms listed
online for sale as Fenton from photos and descriptions provided by Sellers in the many
risk of buying an item risk of buying an item aadvertised advertised as Fentons Fenton,
only to findfind upon its arrival, upon its arrival, only to it is anything ,but. There are
certain aspects to learning how to determine which glass covered hens are authentic
Fenton by learning which features are exclusive to Fenton brand hen tops and bases-as
well as which features are never seen on a Fenton hen or rooster.
| In 1968 Fenton also introduced their 5 inch Hen on Nest, ware #5186. This compact beauty was destined to become a long-term favorite. Fenton's 5" hen on nest featured a very detailed hen top, similar in style to other area, and other places. The 5" Fenton hen top sits on a beautiful uniquely styled base featuring 10 distinctive triple outlined arches, which form the sides, rising from bottom to top, where broad petals form along the upper rim of the base. Fenton lays claim to the from the Butler Bros dating back to the late 1880s depict a hen on nest that appears to be Fenton's #5186. This hen on nest has been made in many colors and decorative treatments, and remains very popular among today's collectors and remained in production until Fenton's closing. |
| In 1968, after nearly a decade without an inline Hen on Nest, Fenton unveiled a revised version of their large 8" hen on nest, assigned ware #5182, which does seem out of order since the previous hen on nest was assigned #5183. Fenton's new 8" hen on nest featured the familiar hen top used as the #5183 & #5188 hen top, on a revised, Vallerysthal style, basket woven base with a double twisted loop "braided" scalloped rim. The ware # 5182 Hen on Nest was in production until Fenton's closing. |
| About a year after the Fenton Chicken Server was introduced, the hen top from it, #5199 was used over a Challinor style, smooth rimmed base, for the release of the #5183 Fenton Hen on Nest. The #5183 hen on the smooth rimmed nest had a fairly short life span, which began in 1953, and ended early in 1958, when the #5183 mould was retired, coinciding with the retirement of the original Chicken Server. None of these hens are marked with embedded logos. (photo far right) |
| Ware #5188 YM, Milk Glass body with Amethyst Head, Chicken Server, YOP: 1953, 1954, retired in this color, 1955. (rare) Hen top is a copy of the 8" Atterbury hen top later used on the smooth rimmed base. Fenton Chicken Server produced: 1952-1958. |
| In 1995 Fenton's release of their Chicken Server Hen, with the new name of the Fenton Hen Egg Plate was done in Mother of Pearl which was decorated with a hand painted pastel floral design. This Hen Egg Plate features Fenton's 8" hen top, as does the Chicken Server of the 1950s, the Hen on smooth rim Nest of the 1950s, and the Hen on the scallop rimmed Nest, that were introduced in 1967 and have yet to be retired. (01.04.08) This Hen Egg Plate, Ware # 5188 YZ was issued as a Limited Edition of 950 pieces total, with each piece signed and numbered, and accompanied by a Fenton tent card. Another Limited Edition of 950 signed and numbered Hand Painted Hen Egg Plates, done in an Iridized Milk Glass and decorated with the English Daisy pattern was produced a couple years later in 1997. The Fenton Hen Egg Plate has also been special ordered by Martha Stewart in other colors, and by Rosso in Topaz Opalescent (Vaseline) and most recently in the early summer of 2008, in Chameleon Green. Ware #5188 Hen Egg Plate, 1995--present day. (02.03.12) |
| Fenton entered the covered hen on nest market relatively late, in 1952 with the debut of their first hen on nest, in the form of their massive Chicken Server, ware #5188. A copy of the hefty 8 inch Atterbury hen, Fenton ware #5199, was used for the hen top nesting on a suitably sized, 12" long platter made with depressions for deviled eggs placed all around it. The slotted eyes of the Atterbury Hen were replaced with big, round bulging eyes that are void of detail, and have since become a renowned identifying factor for Fenton's large hens on nests dishes. Pieces from the 1950s are not marked. (photo to immediate left) |
| Ware #5183 8" Ruby Headed Milk Glass Hen on a (Smooth rimmed Challinor style) Nest. (Rare) 8" Hen on Smooth rimmed base, Ware #5183 produced 1952-January 1958. A rare Plum Slag Fenton Hen on Nest, #5183 was made in very limited numbers in 1961. |
| Fenton's Chick on Nest, ware # 5185, was released in 1953. Only 7 colors/glass combinations were produced inline since the 1950s. The colors of Fenton's Chick On Nest dishes often coincided with the color of that year's Chicken Server and/or #5183 Hen on Nest. Although infrequently produced, Fenton's Chick On Nest has been produced as recently as 1999 in Dusty Rose, and was special ordered by Martha Stewart's Martha by Mail to match the Hen Egg Plates she'd also special ordered in Mint Green and Shell Pink. |
| Ware #5188 YZ, Hen Egg Plate released in 1997 as a Limited Edition of 950 hand painted pieces done in the English Daisy Pattern. Ware #5188 Hen Egg Plate 1995--present day. (01.05.08) |
| Ware #5186 RX, 5" Fenton Ruby Marble (red slag) Hen on Nest, special ordered by Levay in 1984. (HTF) Ware #5186 produced: 1968-2012-close of Fenton Art Glass Factory. (01.04.13) |
| Ware #5185 GM, Chick on Nest, released in 1953. Only 7 Fenton Chick on Nest color/glass combinations have been produced inline or by special order since the Chick On Nest debuted in the 1950s. Colors of the chick and its nest often coincided with the color of that year's Chicken Servers and/or #5183 Hen on (smooth rim) Nest. |
| Ware #5182 MD, 8" HP Milk Glass Hen on inline Hand Painted or decorated 8" Fenton hen on nest, excluding the Hen Egg Plates) produced to date. Ware #5182 produced: 1967-2012-close of Fenton Art Glass Factory. (01.04.13) |
|
| In 1961, the Fenton's final Hen on the Smooth rim base, ware # 5183, was produced in very small test numbers in beautiful plum slag coloring. That mould was not used again and it was about 7 years later before Fenton added their 8" Hen on Nest again as an inline item. The next Fenton Hen on Nest mould featured the same hen top the earlier Fenton Hen on Nest & Chicken Servers used, Fenton #5199, was used over a Challinor style, smooth rimmed base, for the release of the #5183 Fenton Hen on Nest. The #5183 hen on the smooth rimmed nest had a fairly short life span, which began in 1953, and ended early in 1958, when the #5183 mould was retired, coinciding with the retirement of the original Chicken Server. None of these hens are marked with embedded logos. (photo far right) |
 |
We believe it is advantageous for Fenton Hen on Nest collectors to spend some time learning to recognize the
important to know which attributes seen on hen on nest dishes listed online for sale are those that would not be
found on a Fenton hen on nest. This "Reverse Engineering" approach to determining which hens listed are authentic
brand name Fenton, by identifying those that are not, is effective and time saving. Although it may not help you find
the Fenton hen of your dreams, it may prevent the purchase nightmares are made of. Determining which hen on nest
While looking at photos of hen on nest dishes spend time specifically studying:
In most cases the forms of the bases, or nests differ from brand to brand. Nests that are basket-woven, ribbed, or
with the criss-cross adorned sides of the former Westmoreland hen on nest mould, now belonging to Mosser are
three of the more commonly seen types of bases used with hens in the 5 to 7 inch range.
Just as features and details can help identify a hen top's brand, the same is true of the bases, or nests used with glass
covered hen on nest dishes. Again, its all in the details. Learning to recognize these details can help a collector go a
long way towards achieving your collecting goals.
important to know which attributes seen on hen on nest dishes listed online for sale are those that would not be
found on a Fenton hen on nest. This "Reverse Engineering" approach to determining which hens listed are authentic
brand name Fenton, by identifying those that are not, is effective and time saving. Although it may not help you find
the Fenton hen of your dreams, it may prevent the purchase nightmares are made of. Determining which hen on nest
While looking at photos of hen on nest dishes spend time specifically studying:
 | The overall shape and size* or "mould" of the Hen on Nest with the top on the base. | |
| Once details of the complete 2 piece hen on nest have been studied, other features to that requiring a | |
| good look are: | ||
| What is the shape and details of the tail-is it a split tail? | |
| Is it smoothly curved on its front and rear edges, or does it have a scalloped look to the edge(s)? | |
| Note the angle the tail departs the back-does the tail rise steeply, or is the angle of the tail flatter and | |
| closer to the back? | ||
| check the number and placement of eggs around the hen-or the lack of any eggs on the hen top. | |
| Note the degree and turn of the head & neck, and the shape and proportionate size of the beak, wattle, | |
| and comb | ||
| Study the types of faces and their details, including that of the hen's eyes | |
| The details, style and design of the hen top's rim provides clues as to whether a hen is Fenton, with each | |
| of Fenton's hen tops having a distinctive design around the rim. Other brands have plain edges to the rim, diagonal slashes, stippling, or other decorative designs around the rim, etc. Those used by Fenton are distinctive. | ||
| The nest or base can also provide many clues as to whether a hen on nest is Fenton, or not. | |
| The 5" Fenton hen on nest, ware #5186 sits on a unique base with 10 arches forming the sides, which | |
| rise to form broad petals along the upper rim | ||
| Fenton's 8" hen tops #5199 was used on 2 types of basket woven nests with rims that were not the same. | |
| Fenton used a smooth rimmed, Challinor style nest with Fenton's ware #5199 8" hen top known for its | |
| massive size & big, bulging eyes, in the 1950s, until the base was retired in 1958, or late in 1957 as some claim. | ||
| The second style of nest also used with Fenton's large 8" hen is their scallop rimmed, basket-woven | |
| base, which was in production until Fenton's closing. | ||
| The 20 scallops along the upper rim of the second nest used are formed by the upper bytes of double | |
| strands that cross under and over each other but is not a true braid. |
In most cases the forms of the bases, or nests differ from brand to brand. Nests that are basket-woven, ribbed, or
with the criss-cross adorned sides of the former Westmoreland hen on nest mould, now belonging to Mosser are
three of the more commonly seen types of bases used with hens in the 5 to 7 inch range.
Just as features and details can help identify a hen top's brand, the same is true of the bases, or nests used with glass
covered hen on nest dishes. Again, its all in the details. Learning to recognize these details can help a collector go a
long way towards achieving your collecting goals.
| What better way to learn and develop skills of observation than by studying the very items you've become passionate about? Study the hens and roosters in your collection, and compare what you see with as many photos and angles as you can find! |
 |
| Each Fenton hen, rooster and turkey tops and the bases used with them have their own mould & ware numbers. To keep this site simple, for the most part we refer to the ware/mould numbers used for the complete 2 part hen top and base/nest combination, such as using Ware # 5186 for Fenton's 5" hen on nest. Ware numbers can be an invaluable tool for collectors, helping to prevent duplicate purchases of similar colored hens, and for record keeping. |
| EYE HEAD BEAK TAIL REAR OF TAIL FEATHERING BASE RIM smooth scallop braided lacy flared geometric design EGGS number,position, size BASE- SIDE PATTERN- basketweave (strands) diamong basketweave stippled ribbed arched BASE BOTTOM- basetweave plain TO MEASURE SIZE- TOP- Outside rim to outside rim BASE-Outside rim to outside rim-length X width COLOR- TREATMENT OTHER FEATURES-EYES EMBEDDED MARKINGS- LOGOS- DECADE INDICATORS-SECOND QUALITY MARKS |
| Indiana Hen on Nest-front & side views-perfect shots of a tail that is not a split tail. |
| Indiana Hen on Nest |
| The Indiana Glass hen on nest shown here lacks many visible features attributed to Fenton's hens including- a turn to the head and neck, more realistic detail and overall dimension to the hen, a split tail and eggs present on the hen top. The Indiana base is also unlike any nest or base produced and/or used by Fenton. Indiana made their bases in beaded and non-beaded rims and with different types of sides, stippled, not stippled, e.g. Even when viewed from the front, the tail of the Indiana Hen is clearly not a split tail, as it does not split apart, or widen, from the top down to form an inverted V, as the tails of all of Fenton's hen on nest forms do. |
 |
| Ware #5183 8" Rare Plum Slag Glass Hen on a (Smooth rimmed Challinor style) Nest. The very rare Plum Slag Fenton Hen on Nest, #5183 was made in very limited numbers in 1961 only. |
| | | |
 |
| Fenton Hen on (scallop rim) Nest, #5182 YOP: 1967-not retired as of 1/09 Shown #5182 MD, YOP, 1971-72 |
| Fenton's Chick on Nest, # 5185. YOP: 1953-still in production. (1.09) Shown: #5185 MY, YOP 1954 Amethyst Chick, Milk Glass Egg/Nest |
| Closeup of the very detailed face of the #5186 5" Fenton hen on nest. Note the detailed almond shaped eyes with eyelids, pupils and other details, which Fenton's hen top from their 8" hen on nest #5182 clearly lack, as shown in these 2 photos.------------> |
| Copyright © Silver Stirrup Studio at Sweetwater Farms, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. All rights reserved. Web site designed, hosted and maintained by Silver Stirrup Studio at Sweetwater Farms. This page last revision on 04/21/2020 15:48:59 This site is not affiliated with Fenton Art Glass, eBay or any other organization. The opinions expressed here are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fenton Art Glass Company, eBay or any individual, named or unnamed. The facts are stated to the best of our knowledge, based on information obtained from the Official site of the Fenton Art Glass Company, and other sites and printed media listed in this site's Bibliography. |
| Fenton's 5" hen on nest dishes are shown below in Cobalt, #5186 KN from 1999, and in Milk Glass with a Blue Royale Head, ware #5186 EU, from 1989, as part of the Elizabeth Collection. This is not a limited edition, but the Elizabeth Collection was named after Frank Fenton's wife Elizabeth who was reported to favor the combination of Milk Glass and Fenton's Blue Royale. Although similar to cobalt, Blue Royale is different in appearance with an almost richer blue coloring to it-despite the photos below which don't support that. Please note how very detailed Fenton's 5" hen top is. She, like her 8" Fenton sisters, also has 6 eggs with two on each side of the front, and one on each side of the tail. Fenton's 5" hen top has very realistic face, with a well formed beak, comb, and wattle, and very detailed eyes-complete with pupils and eyelids-which Fenton's large 8" hen tops do not have. These are the large hen tops used with Fenton's Chicken Servers, Hen Egg Plates, and on two versions of basket woven bases-the smooth and scalloped rimmed. |
| As of January, 2017 factory records show that Fenton's 9" hen top, with the big bulging eyes, is the only hen top Fenton ever used with a basket woven base, with two versions of the basket-woven base made. The earliest to have been made was in the 1950's, with a smooth rim base, which was changed to the scallop rimmed Vallerysthal style base introduced with the same hen top in 1968, in Milk Glass. Shown above is Fenton ware #5183, an Amethyst & Milk Glass Hen top and the smooth rim base, also Milk Glass. Fenton's revised large, 9" hen on nest introduced in 1967 features a basket-woven base with a scallop rimmed top. The 8" Fenton hen top was used on both the Challinor style smooth rimmed basket woven base of the 1950s (shown above), and the Vallerysthal style scalloped rimmed basket woven base Fenton introduced in 1967 (shown to the right), as well as on the Chicken Servers of the 1950s (see top of page), and the Hen Egg Plates made from 1995 to present day 2011 had not been retired, when Fenton ceased making new wares. |
| Although the 5" Fenton hen on nest is similar to those in that size range made by other makers, Fenton has always been produced their 5" hen on nest with a beautiful base, featuring 10 arches forming the sides, which broaden slightly on the upper rim. The base features a centered starburst with the Fenton logo embedded in the center, when applicable. There were no other contemporary bases used by other companies of the same form as Fenton's, which Fenton family members have claimed as their own, with various anecdotal stories of how it came to be, furthering this point in print media, published books, and on TV's QVC Show. The unique nest for the 5" Fenton hen on nest is attributed to Fenton, despite some controversy about it. Fenton Art Glass has openly staked their claim to this base and hen top combination, and maintained it as their own, despite some controversy surrounding its actual origins. |
| Above is a sketch of a Fenton hen on nest #5182 with the hen top, #5199 lifted slightly from the #5181 base so the rim's design of the hen top is more easily seen. (please pardon the artwork! :) |
| | | | | | | |
| | | |
Big round,
bulging eyes-both
sides
bulging eyes-both
sides
| Rear edge of tail-smoothly curved without any indentations. |
| Hen's Comb made up of round "balls" in the back with a more upright combed look to the front. |
| Sizeable wattle & a pretty cowl extending down most of the neck. |
| A pair of Eggs, with each egg slightly different in size, sits on each side of the Hen Top's breast, resting on the rim. |
| An Egg sits under both sides of the Hen Top's tail, resting on the part of the rim under that part the. |
| A copy of the 8" Atterbury Hen Top was developed by Fenton in the a year or so later with Fenton's Challinor Style smooth rimmed Nest, for a more conventionally styled HON, Fenton Hen on Nest #5183. Almost a decade after the 9" Hen on the smooth rimmed Nest #5183 was retired, Fenton revised their 8 inch Fenton Hen on Nest by changing the base to a scallop rimmed Vallerysthal type base, with was released it as Hen on Nest #5182, featuring the familiar 8" Fenton Hen Top #5199. This hen top, a copy of the 8 inch Atterbury Hen top, underwent some interesting changes before Fenton began producing her their own. Fenton replaced the empty eye slots of the Atterbury Hen top copy, used by Atterbury for the insertion of glass eyes with big, bulging eyes in the mould, which later became one of the renowned identifying features of Fenton's large hen tops. |
| Big round bulging eyes---> beak with mouth-> wattle for hen-> |
| Large face-> |
| <-thick neck slight turn to left at head & neck junction |
| A pair of eggs of two different sizes are located on both sides of the front of the hen------------------> |
| realistic hen's comb-front made up of rows, back of head covered with rounded |
The large heavy Fenton Hen Top #5199, a copy of the Atterbury Hen, was used on Fenton's first hen on nest to
debut, in the form of the massive Fenton Chicken Server in 1952. The same hen top #5199 was used on Fenton's
large hen on nest dishes and Hen Egg Plates-Chicken Servers from 1952 until Fenton's closing and was always
made in the USA. This hen top features a slightly turned, fairly large, proportionate head, a rather stout neck
with well defined cowl, fairly and comb suited for a hen.
Fenton Hen Top #5199, like her smaller 5" sister who tops Hen on Nest #5186, features a total of 6 eggs. 4 front
and 2 in the rear.A total of 6 eggs, arranged in two pairs and two singles of varying sizes are molded to the
hen. A pair of eggs consisting of two different sizes is located near the left front of the hen, a smaller pair is on
the right front, and 2 single eggs of the same size are located on either side of the tail.
An intricate geometrical design decorates the circumference of the hen top #5199's rim. As with all Fenton's
hen tops, this Hen Top has a split tail which rises at a fairly flat angle from the back. There are no indentations
along either edge of the tail's smooth edges, including the rear. The tail departs the back at a much flatter
angle with a broader end to the tail than that of the smaller 5" Fenton hen top.
The tail of the large Fenton hen leaves the back at a much flatter angle than the 5 " Fenton Hen, who's tail
leaves at a much steep angle. As with all of Fenton's hen on nest dishes, the #5182 has a smoothly curved tail,
void of any indentations on either edge.
debut, in the form of the massive Fenton Chicken Server in 1952. The same hen top #5199 was used on Fenton's
large hen on nest dishes and Hen Egg Plates-Chicken Servers from 1952 until Fenton's closing and was always
made in the USA. This hen top features a slightly turned, fairly large, proportionate head, a rather stout neck
with well defined cowl, fairly and comb suited for a hen.
Fenton Hen Top #5199, like her smaller 5" sister who tops Hen on Nest #5186, features a total of 6 eggs. 4 front
and 2 in the rear.A total of 6 eggs, arranged in two pairs and two singles of varying sizes are molded to the
hen. A pair of eggs consisting of two different sizes is located near the left front of the hen, a smaller pair is on
the right front, and 2 single eggs of the same size are located on either side of the tail.
An intricate geometrical design decorates the circumference of the hen top #5199's rim. As with all Fenton's
hen tops, this Hen Top has a split tail which rises at a fairly flat angle from the back. There are no indentations
along either edge of the tail's smooth edges, including the rear. The tail departs the back at a much flatter
angle with a broader end to the tail than that of the smaller 5" Fenton hen top.
The tail of the large Fenton hen leaves the back at a much flatter angle than the 5 " Fenton Hen, who's tail
leaves at a much steep angle. As with all of Fenton's hen on nest dishes, the #5182 has a smoothly curved tail,
void of any indentations on either edge.
| Different logos were used by Fenton, with each having its own meaning, or reason, for its use. The center of the underside of the base shown on the left is where the logo shown in the photo on the right is placed.the right is placed. |
<-smoothly curved tail-no indentations on either edge! |
| <-space under tail before rim's edge |
| 20 scallops along the upper rim of--->> the base are formed by the repeated up & down of the twisted double strands that band the basket-woven portion of the base |
| <--tail is broad with a slightly rounded tip, smoothly curved edges. |
| 20 scallops along the upper rim of the base are formed by the repeated twisting of double strands that band the basket-woven <---portion of the base's circumference---> |
| Base #5181 sits on rim, with design of underside shown below.-----------> |
| Spilt tail from rear. Larger eggs on either side of tail. |
| This design of this hen's crown begins with rows from her beak to about the center of the head. Then, the rows of the front turn to round "balls" covering the area from the center to the rear of the head, with a more linear start from of the comb at the font of the head. The rear of the neck, or cowl area, which finishes the crown. |
| <----Cowl has rounded feathers overlaid on the other feathers. |
| A pair of eggs, of 2 sizes per pair, are on either side the hen's breast. |
| Smooth tail departs the back at fairly flat angle.--> |
| Fenton Hen Egg Plate, #5188 Shown #5188 YZ, LE to 950 pieces. YOP: 1995- (not retired as of 1/09) |
| Large face-> |
| 2 eggs are on both sides of the front of the hen------------------> |
| <---2 eggs larger than those in pairs with one on each side under tail. Note: All 6 eggs are molded into the hen top. |
| 20 scallops along the upper rim of----> the base are formed by the repeated up & down of the twisted double strands that band the basket-woven portion of the base |
| Base #5181 is used with ware #5182 & sits on rim, with design of underside shown below.-----------> |
| <----larger egg on either side of tail |
| <--------------- geometric design on hen top's rim -----------------> |
<------smoothly curved tail-no indentations on either edge! |
| top has 20 scallops <---portion of the base---> |
