Fenton, Northwood and Diamond made very similar "cathedrial" or "colonial" candy jars. These are urn-shaped with a lid. Fenton and Lancaster made similar jars that have a conical base, but different tops (espeically the lid knobs). The candy jars of U.S. Glass are quite unique, with optic rays or external ribs.

Unfortunately, the covered bonbons of Fenton, Northwood and Diamond are nearly identical, but by looking at the lids and mold seams, even these can be separated! To download some of these illustrations, GO HERE.

Fenton and Northwood made nearly identical 1/2 and 1-pound candy jars that are urn shaped with flat, external ribs. When the lids are present, identification is simple - just look at the fitter rim of the lid. If it is straight, you have a Fenton jar, if indented, you have a Northwood jar. Unfortunately, the bases are often found without lids. In this case, you need to look at the shape of the base and look to see where the mold seams come down to the foot (on the left or right of a ray or panel).

Fenton's #835 candy jar (1/2-pound) has a hexagonal foot, wide panels on the base and uses the 1-pound #636 jar lid. The base was used to make a parfait and various vase shapes.

Diamond made two sizes of an urn-shaped jar, but notice that it uses external wide panels with no rays. There is also a unique series of three rings under the top band of the base. Unfortunately, one of these has been shown in a Fenton book as being Fenton's!

Fenton's #9 candy jar (3/4-pound) has a smooth surface, has a 3 1/2-inch base, and is about 9-inches tall. These often have cut designs on. The bottom occasionally is found in various comport shapes.

Diamond also made a #900 ("Adam's Rib") jar with numerous external ribs.

Fenton's #8 candy jar (1/2-pound) has a smooth surface, has a 3-inch base, and is about 7 3/4-inch tall.

Both Fenton and Northwood made 8 1/2-inch and 10-inch long candleholders in this form, but Vineland only made tall ones. The major difference is the shape of the stem where the foot attaches. Vineland sticks have three mold seams.

Fenton is the only company that made these round jars with high tops. The #735 and # 736 jars have optic rays in the base and lid but the #568 has a optic diamond quilt pattern. The bases of these jars were occasionally made into fan vases.

Lancaster also made a round jar that is commonly mistaken to be Fenton's. When the lid is present, it is easy to tell them apart, but without the lid, you need to look at the foot. The Lancaster base is smooth at the outer margin, but the Fenton ones have a little thickened lip. Jars with and without optic rays are known.

Wide panelled covered bonbons were made by Fenton, Northwood and Diamond. If they have their lids, identification is relatively simple! The Fenton lid has a straight fitter rim (lid lip) while the Northwood and Diamond lids have indented rims. Notice that top band of the Diamond base is straight across while the Fenton and Northwood bases have scalloped edges. Fenton and Diamond bases have delicate, thin stems while the Northwood one is thicker. Fenton's base also has the mold seam usually visible on the upper collar but this is not evident in the Northwood or Diamond bonbons.

Fenton also made a covered bonbon that does not have the pedistal base, #543.

Another Lancaster jar or bonbon has a small pedistal base and low lid - no panels, but occasionally optic rays are found.

The Fenton #10 jar has a pedistal base and thin lid that fits over the base top.

Fenton also made this jar, but we don't know its number. The thin lid of this one fits inside the base.

Fenton's #943 1/2-pound covered bonbon. The thin rays roll into the glass, not out as in Diamond's Adam's Rib pieces.

Fenton's #844 1-pound covered bonbon/candy jar. The base is made using the #847 "melon rib" bowl and fan vase mold.

Fenton's #1043 1-pound covered bonbon with thin rays and octagonal stem base.

This Lancaster jar uses a lid with an octagonal knob. The base is 3-inch wide.

This Lancaster jar uses a lid with a round knot and the base is also 3-inches wide.

This rare Diamond jar has three feet and optic rays. Lancaster made a very similar one, but the lid is nearly flat, not domed as in this one. The Diamond jar has a 2-inch wide marie (basal knob) and the Lancaster jar has a 4 1/8-inch wide marie.