Friday, February 10, 2012

Wow! Look at the caption. It says this is the 1400th Gazelle Gazette issued. That’s a lot of information. Well, here’s some more information.

Terry Smith of Signal Hill, California sent out the following e-mail to the Elegant Glass group located on the west coast. I thought it was an interesting and instructive comparison and identification of a Carder gold aurene as contrasted with a Tiffany Favrile. Terry has consented to its republishing. In consenting Terry added this: “Oh, and YES I very much prefer the Steuben to the Tiffany mostly because of the more attractive shapes.”

“These treatments are easily confused, as they appear all-but identical. I am not sure if they were developed at about the sametime.

Steuben’s (Gold) “Aurene” (Notice handwritten – with diamond-pointed stylus – “marks” on bottom)

Tiffany’s “Favrile” (Again, diamond-pointed stylus/pen used to “mark” bottom with “LCT” & “F”)

LCT = Louis Comfort Tiffany (the man’s name)

These are perfect-case scenarios, as not always marked, and the marks can easily be counterfeited. (One can buy a diamond-pointed stylus/pen at just about any hardware or craft store, today.)

Terry Smith, Signal Hill, CA”

Michael Krumme of Los Angeles, who is a participant of the Elegant Glass Group, responded to Terry Smith’s comparison with his following observations on the differences between the Tiffany & Carder iridescent glass:

“Hi Terry,

This subject was addressed in one of the issues of the Gazelle Gazette, but it may have been before you joined the CSC. You might try logging onto the website and searching the back issues for this subject.

Generally I find that the iridescence on Tiffany pieces is more colorful all over, showing lots of rainbow hues, whereas the iridescence on the Steuben pieces tends to be more uniform, and does not have a rainbow spectrum of colors in it. Also, if an piece is iridized all over but somewhat translucent, it’s more likely to be Tiffany.

Also, the Steuben shapes tend to be more classical, while the Tiffany shapes are more organic, more fluid and less symmetrical, and at times, even grotesque.

Michael Krumme, Los Angeles”

www.cardersteubenclub.org

2012 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 20-22, 2012.

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