Stretch glass is a form of carnival glass, but it has a much different look. Although the same metallic oxides were sprayed on the glass after is was pressed or molded, the glass was reheated, which caused the surface glass to crackle as the addition of the coating made its rate of expansion different from that of the interior glass. The piece was then tooled to produce a flared rim or some other special feature not provided by the mold, and sent to the lehr to complete the glass making process. This onion-skin iridescence of the glass was caused by the stretching of the surface with the metallic coating, hence the name, which was applied much later and not used by the glass manufacturers at the time.
Stretch glass has one other major difference from the carnival glass made at the time (1915-1935): the glass molds were fairly plain and did not contain the overall patterns so common on carnival glass. So, instead of an all-over grape and leaves pattern covered with the metallic sheen, you have fairly plain pieces with a velvet iridescence. Once you have seen the difference, you will be able to pick out stretch glass easily.
The objective of carnival glass was to reproduce the expensive favril glass made by Tiffany and other art glass makers in a form that regular people could afford. The stretch glass actually gets closer to favril glass, in my opinion, in that the forms are plainer and the iridescence a little more subdued than carnival glass, and more like to the art glass they were trying to emulate. The art glass pieces certainly did not incorporate overall patterns of the dimensions of depression glass, so why the makers of carnival glass used these is a mystery. Maybe they figured their customers expected it, since most manufactured glass had such patterns since the invention of the glass press molding process.
There are examples of carnival glass which have the stretch glass, onion skin finish. These may have been mistakes made during manufacturing, or experimental pieces. The velvet surface on the highly molded glass can be as attractive as it is on the plainer versions of pressed glass. In addition, some stretch glass has been decorated with enamel paints, just as depression and carnival glass is sometimes decorated this way, by the manufacturer, or sold as blanks to outside decorating houses.
Cleaning of stretch glass should be kept to a minimum, and be very gentle. First, do not clean pieces with painting, decals or gold rims. Mild dish washing soap and warm water, using a soft dishcloth, is all that should be used on pieces without these features. Soaking overnight to remove price tag glue or any other buildup is permissible. Soak in white vinegar for 24 hours to remove hard water scale, then wash as indicated. If the problem is not removed by these methods, you must live with it. Any more vigorous cleaning may remove the finish and ruin the piece.
Stretch glass is very beautiful, and the plain molding allows the glass and the metallic iridescence to show at their best. Look for this glass at glass shows and antique shops. With some searching you may be able to find or assemble a buffet set or small collection of this marvelous glass.
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