Lead Content

Yesterday Tom Buckles of Newbury, OH asked, Are these Steuben items using the same lead crystal as in the past?

The Nautilus Bowl

Steve Bender at CMoG answers:

Here’s how I would answer the question:

The Nautilus Bowl is being made in Portugal by a supplier Steuben had worked with previously, going back to the early 2000s. This supplier has a continuous melt tank that is very similar to the tank that was in the Steuben factory, and Steuben worked with this supplier on a glass batch (lead crystal) that meets all of Steuben’s quality requirements. Steuben also sent glassworkers to Portugal to train their glassworkers on how to produce items that adhere to their standards. This same supplier is also being used to make the stemware and barware items, as well as any of the pressed items (small animals, desk accessories, etc.). Off hand items like Trout & Fly, Olive Dish, Shore Bird, Snail, Eagle (on the ball) and the holiday ornaments are being made in the Corning area with former Steuben glassworkers and with a new, lead free glass formula. For more information, contact Steve Bender @ bendersc@cmog.org.

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Beth Shaut of Corning also answers Tom Buckles’ question:

At the symposium Steve Bender said that the handmade pieces were being made with barium instead of lead. The pieces that he had brought for us to see at the 2014 symposium were pristine and clear as the leaded ones he brought to compare.