Did someone score a great museum quality eBay find? Take a look at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=7387267121&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:
Two years ago at the Steuben Carder Club Symposium, Jane Spillman, Curator of
American Glass at CmoG, author and renowned expert on cut glass, spoke on the
not so well known cut and engraved crystal of Frederick Carder. While Mr.
Carder‛s designed hundreds of engraved & cut glass patterns this glass is
frequently overlooked. Much of Mr. Carder‛s pre-1918 cut and engraved cut
glass just hasn‛t been discovered, appreciated or identified. As Jane Spillman
notes in her book The Complete Cut & Engraved Glass of Corning, Carder’s “cut
crystal is rare and virtually always unsigned.”
This eBay piece wasn‛t identified as Steuben and only two alert bidders
apparently recognized this as a fabulous find. Jim Barlow brought this to our
attention. He points out that a similar “Skeleton-Molded” piece, shape #1284
appears on the pages of Gardner (p.91) where it is identified as a piece of
Stevens and Williams. The same piece appears in Dimitroff‛s book at fig. 7.13, p.
154 identified as Steuben. The eBay piece appears to be a variant of shape
#1343, page 259 of Gardner. While we can‛t know for sure if this is a piece of
S&W, or Carder‛s Jim strongly feels this vase is likely Mr. Carder‛s work at
Steuben. Thanks to Jim Barlow for showing us a good example of his detective
work. The cut and engraved glass is just one more dimension of the breadth of
Mr. Carder’s genius.
Talking about discoveries. You‛ll find attached a Gold Aurene limousine vase with
holder found at the Miami Airport show. It’s engraved pattern featuring griffins
is quite unusual and detailed. There is no end of Carder discoveries and surprises
to be found.

Darwin Klinetob of Houston sent me the following about Calcite Charlie, Carder’s
ace salesman, known for his sales of Steuben’s translucent white “calcite”
glass. “I (Darwin) first met Charlie in about 1950 when both he and I were
working out of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago The best way I can describe
Charlie Potter is as a character straight out of central casting for ‘The Great
Gatsby’. Tall, slender, and handsome, he was truly a ladies’ man. Since the
majority of Steuben buyers were women, this was a distinct sales advantage.

At this year’s Symposium (Sept. 15 & 16) participants will have the option
Saturday afternoon of working with hot glass. You’ll be able to make a paper
weight with Rodie Rovner’s Hands on Glass.

Hopefully, in about a month we’ll be distributing to Club members three more
Collector’s Favorites, along with minutes of our last meeting at last September’s
Symposium.
Visit the Club’s website at www.CarderSteubenClub.com
Pieces featured and added to the catalogue of shapes almost daily