Saturday, June 11, 2011

Did I have a wonderful and surprising experience. We were in the “neighborhood” traveling to Washington, DC and we stopped off at the West Virginia Museum of American Glass in Weston, West Virginia. (along interstate #79) I was unprepared and didn’t expect such a dazzling experience of a collection of 11,000 pieces of American glass from a diverse number of manufacturers spanning 1860 to the present. The variety of patterns, striking colors and forms were spectacularly displayed. Dozens upon dozens of glass cabinets showing a well curated collection to its best advantage.

Things were just well conceived in terms of organization by not only manufacturers, but colors and types of glass. E.g. groupings of bottles, etched glass or whatever category it may have been. Just a great education experience. What particularly surprised me was the extensive research library on the premises. They report it is the best glass library outside of The Rakow in Corning. Well, I did note one omission. The library has its Steuben section and it didn’t have my book. Well, now that’s been corrected.

For the Steuben collector you’ll be pleased to note that when entering the museum you will see the cabinet our Club has donated to the museum is front and center with a very nice Carder collection. My wife, Susan, noted a compote she hadn’t see before and really liked. We found out that it was donated by our own Club member, Jerry Eggert of Rochester, New York. The bottom line is I feel inadequate in describing this gem of a glass museum. It’s web site is www.magwv.com

www.cardersteubenclub.org

Any opinions expressed by participants to the Gazette e-mail newsletters are the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by or the opinions of the Carder Steuben Club.

2011 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 15-17, 2011.