John Maryanski sends us yet another combination of metal and glass with a story
to go with it. See the web posting at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardersteubenclub/sets/72157600745462035/
I would like to submit an item that I believe is a Steuben glass/metal piece. The
story follows and 3 pictures are attached. Thanks

Back in the 1970‛s, we collected many pieces of Steuben glass at the Brimfield
(Mass.) flea markets. One year, I found a little old lady (70 years+) selling a few
glass items out of the trunk of her car in one of the parking lots. She said she
lived in Corning and had New York plates on her car. She said her husband had
been a Steuben glass blower for many years. I asked her why she was selling
these glass pieces. She said her husband had been dead for years and they had
no children to pass them down to. Though some other people could enjoy the
glass, besides she could use the money.
One piece immediately caught my eye. It was a beautiful pale iridescent
white bowl with a brass stand in perfect condition. I am not an expert but I
believe it has more of the warm glow of Calcite rather than the whiteness of
Alabaster or Ivrene. The seller said it had been her husband‛s retirement gift
from his fellow employees at Steuben. The bowl measures 7 in. high (in the brass
holder) and 7 in. in diameter. The bowl is not stable freestanding without the
brass holder. The bowl has a ground bottom with “Steuben” etched in it. It is
hard to see in my pictures but the style is similar to the longhand “Aurene”
shown in Fig. 10.82, page 234 of Dimitroff‛s book “Frederick Carter and Steuben
Glass”.
I also bought a 6 in. high blue/green Aurene vase, bottom marked “Aurene, 574
½” from her. There is no doubt about its authenticity. I have always been sorry
I did not buy her other 3 or 4 pieces.
Several experts have told me that it is not true Steuben as Steuben never
produced glass/metal combination pieces. Your pictured collection in this area
gives me new hope, as I never have doubted the honesty of this little old lady
seller. I am so sorry for not getting her name…. I guess I was just too happy
with my purchases and had to rush off and show my wife. I did go back several
hours later but she had left.
I would appreciate everyone‛s comment on this piece. Several pictures are
attached. Thanks for the opportunity to share my prized piece with you.