Speaking of Glass

Speaking of Glass… by Orva Heissenbuttel in Rainbow Review Glass Journal, November 1977.

Some of the history recounted at page 27 reads:

“Mr. Carder considered Intarsia glass one of his greatest achievements, and this was the only glass to be signed by him (with a facsimile signature ‘Fred’k Carder’) at the time it was made. In later years Mr. Carder signed pieces (with an engraving tool) with a bold signature upon the request of collectors. The Intarsia, Cintra, Cluthra and Moss Agate pieces has a transparent glass casing which highlighted the various design features and colors of these decorative wares.

“Not only did the early years of Steuben coincide with the peak years of Art Nouveau, but it was also the ‘brilliant period’ of cut glass. Steuben produced both ornamental and cut glass tableware in considerable quantities, then switched to engraved decoration when this style went out of fashion. Elaborate table services were also made, many designed exclusively for individual customers. In all Carder, was responsible for producing more than 100 colors and 8,000 forms designed and made at the Steuben works until 1932.

“The Steuben Glass Works became the Steuben Division of Corning Glass Works in 1918 and Carder stayed on as director until 1932, then he became Art Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1959, at age 96. He remained active until his death in Corning at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful glass which has never been surpassed, and seldom equaled.

“The glass made during the Carder period is usually referred to as the ‘colored’ period of Steuben glass (although both clear and colored was made) since all colored glass production ceased in 1932. Only clear glass has been made since 1933. Although much of the glass of the Carder period was marked with various trademarks, unfortunately for collectors, much of it was sold only with a paper label. The common mark was the ‘fleur-de-lis’ mark which was acid-etched, but there are several marks which have been faked to the consternation of novice collectors and dealers.

“The Houghton period of Steuben glass began in 1933 when the directors of the Corning Glass Works were considering liquidation the company’s Steuben Division. Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., great-grandson of Corning’s founder and youngest member of the Corning Board of Directors went before his fellow director’s and asked that he be put in charge of the Steuben Division. In the autumn of 1933, Steuben Glass, Inc., was formed as a new company and with Houghton as director the company took a new direction.

“Houghton, along with Sidney Waugh and John M. Gates, planned a new approach to the production of Steuben glass, that of making only pure crystal glass. His new ‘Trilogy’ philosophy stressed material, workmanship and design, with all three given equal prominence.”