Comments by: Thomas P. Dimitroff

The Color of Steuben, a private cocktail reception

Steuben Glass
667 Madison Avenue at 61st Street, New York City
Wednesday, May 3, 2006

What a wonderful evening! Thank you for being here. We are gathered here surrounded by the beauty, craftsmanship, and uniqueness of these stunning handmade glass objects – objects that are the work of Steuben Glass, an America company that is 103 years old, an American company that from its beginnings has committed itself to the beauty and wonder of hand-worked glass. This commitment has made Steuben Glass and its talented employees a vital and vibrant part of the American decorative arts scene for the last century. During this time Steuben has produced both objects of art and utilitarian objects that are themselves works of art. When you acquire a piece of Steuben, you acquire a piece of art.

The story of Steuben Glass began with the birth of Frederick Carder in Brockmoor, Kingswinford, Staffordshire, England, on September 18, 1863. In 1880 at seventeen years of age, Carder entered the glass-making world at Stevens & Williams, one of England’s foremost glass-making companies.

No one knew at the time that this was the beginning of a glass-making career that would last 79 years ending with Carder’s retirement in 1959.

Carder worked as a designer at Stevens & Williams until 1903 when Thomas Hawkes, a cut glass manufacturer, convinced Carder to come to Corning, New York, and start a new factory that would be named the Steuben Glass Works after the name of the county in which it is located. When Carder came to Corning to establish and run Steuben Glass, he came as an experienced, talented, and respected glass designer, and glass chemist. He was knowledgeable in all aspects of glass-making. Carder began Steuben Glass and operated it based on several concepts which included quality, hand-craftsmanship, and beauty. He also believed strongly that it was color that brought glass to life.

During the time Carder ran Steuben (1903 – 1932), he designed over 8000 shapes of vases, bowls, candlesticks, perfumes, and a host of other objects. As a chemist, he developed over 140 colors and types of glass. Each and every piece of Steuben was handmade with skill and dedication to the concepts of beauty and quality. These concepts have guided Steuben to this very day.

In 1918 Steuben Glass was purchased by Corning Glass Works, a large glass factory that had been in Corning since 1868. Carder remained in charge of Steuben working for Corning Glass Works until 1932 when Arthur Houghton, a board member of the Corning Glass Works and cousin of the owners of the company took over the management of Steuben Glass. At this time Carder was made Art Director for Corning Glass Works.

During the Carder years at Steuben (1903 – 1932) Carder designed the pieces to be made, created the glass formulas, and supervised every step in the creation of the object. Basically one man, Carder, designed the glass objects which were then made in many colors and types of glass. In 1932, when Arthur Houghton took over from Carder he brought a totally new concept to the making of Steuben Glass. He continued Carder’s belief in hand-craftsmanship and quality. However, instead of making Steuben objects in 140 colors and types of glass, he determined that all Steuben would be made in a wonderfully clear and brilliant optical glass produced by the Corning Glass Works. Further, instead of having one man design Steuben, Arthur would hire the best designers he could find. So, since 1932, all Steuben Glass has been made in Steuben’s wonderful lead crystal and the pieces are designed by several Steuben designers. So, we see that Steuben has two distinctly different periods, the Carder period (1903 – 1932) and what is most often referred to as the Houghton period or the Modern Steuben period (1932 – present day).

Knowing a little about Steuben’s history is helpful in understanding what Steuben Glass is all about, but an interesting question still left unanswered is why so many people collect it. In other words, what makes Steuben objects so collectable, so enticing? First, I believe it is the innate beauty of Steuben objects. Each and every piece is designed and made as an object of beauty. To me owning a piece of Steuben glass is like owning a museum object. Ownership of Steuben gives an individual a wonderful feeling of pride of ownership. Almost all collectors I know not only get satisfaction and pride from owning a piece of Steuben, but also understand the responsibility that comes with such ownership. This responsibility is caring for the object so that it may be passed on to future generations and enjoyed by others.

Collecting Steuben is a rewarding and enjoyable activity. It offers the chance to meet interesting people, to travel to interesting places, to learn and to share information and excitement. In other words, the search for new and unusual pieces of Steuben is in itself fulfilling, challenging, and just plain fun. And, yes, ownership of Steuben can be a good investment.

Much of what I have just said about collecting Steuben is true about collecting many things. Collecting Steuben made during the Carder era presents the variety and beauty of eclecticism. One might collect Carder’s Victorian style pieces or his Art Nouveau objects or his wonderful art deco creations or other designs. Another collector may choose to collect certain objects or certain shapes. Yet another collector’s approach may be to collect a certain type or color of Steuben objects. This collector may decide to collect only Blue Aurene objects or Wisteria pieces or Cintra or a host of other such possibilities. Carder era Steuben offers almost limitless choices of what to collect making the challenges and joys of the hunt exciting, fun, and rewarding. When a collector finds and purchases a highly sought after piece of Steuben, he has acquired an object that is an important part of America’s decorative arts history. It is an object of beauty and quality and has historic value in addition to all its other qualities.

Although different, buying and collecting Steuben objects made after the Carder years also offers collectors many challenges, much joy, and great pride. When you purchase a Steuben object made since 1932, you are again acquiring an object created by hand by some of the most talented glass-workers in the world. These Modern Steuben objects are designed by artists who are a part of Steuben’s renowned design team – artists such as Sidney Waugh, Lloyd Atkins, John Dreves, Donald Pollard, James Houston, David Dowler, Eric Hilton, Joel Smith, Peter Drobny, and a host of others. You are, in other words buying a piece of art which is the product of an American company that has steadfastly committed itself to making the highest quality of handmade glass objects since 1903.

It has been said that owning one object is nice, but owning two or more such objects makes you a collector. So, if you don’t yet collect Steuben Glass, you can quickly and easily become a collector. And if you are already a collector, smile to yourself and know the joy and excitement of finding that piece of Steuben that fits so well into your collection. Smile also the next time you have the joy and excitement of sharing your collection with others.

Tonight, let’s all enjoy this opportunity to see and enjoy Steuben Glass from both the Carder era and the Modern era. This is an evening of brilliance, beauty, color, appreciation, challenge, and glory for which we must thank Steuben Glass and all the men and women who have made it what it is for the last 103 years.