Engravers for Steuben

from Mike Manginella of Escondido (San Diego), CA

Alan,

Most of the engravers that were living in Corning were doing work for all the local cutting shops as well as for direct customers. They were what we call today, “independent contractors”. What most people don’t realize is that in the Corning area lived some of the best engravers in the world at the time.

Thomas G. Hawkes, who created Steuben, spent quite a bit of time and effort recruiting engravers from Europe and England. This came about when the English started creating their “rock crystal” products as well as the intaglio designs, and the Europeans were creating some stunning engraved glass in central Europe. Most of those engravers were recruited by Hawkes as the American market became aware and sought out the great engraved works from England and Europe.

Hawkes was creating his “Gravic Glass” and H.P. Sinclair, who worked for Hawkes was an early advocate of engraved glass. The promise of better wages and a new beginning in America was the draw for many of them. The engravers worked for Hawkes originally and then moved to Sinclair when he left Hawkes to start his own cutting shop, which specialized in engraving.

The engravers worked from home so were able to engrave for others as well. You will find very fine engraved glass from Hawkes, Hoare, Sinclair, Hunt, as well as Steuben and other shops. Unfortunately little to none of this is signed or can be attributed to one engraver, in fact unless it was done on an identified cut pattern, you had little clue which shop was responsible.

T.G. Hawkes Company Copper Wheel Engraved Limousine Vase with Griffon pattern C. 1917

Shape: #3307

8 1/4 long

French?

This is in response to Greg Jennings question regarding his cologne bottle.

It is not Steuben, and it is not Stevens & Williams. It is likely French, from the late 1800s to about 1920.
These bottles were generally part of a dresser set, so there may have been 2 bottles, a puff box and perhaps a tray.

Bottles of this type are seen in pink/white, blue/white (resembles light blue jade) and green/white (resembles green jade).

Bonnie Salzman, Richmond, VA

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I would not be at all surprised if this bottle turned out to be a French piece of glass. From the picture it sure looks similar to Opaline glass.

Norman Skolnick, Toronto