I’ve been corresponding with Jane Spillman, Curator of American Glass at CMoG, about a piece of glass that is for sale at an upcoming auction at Bonhams. This is in the sale of the collection of the late dealer and friend of many collectors, Joan Miller. There is a unique piece of glass that was perhaps dedicated from Mr. Carder to John Northwood at Stevens & Williams. See the picture and description at:
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?
sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=3486108&iSaleNo=14808&sServer=http://images2.bonhams.com/&sPath=2007-
02/14/7384854-105-1.jpg
Jane has been struggling to sort out whether this glass was Stevens and Williams or perhaps American glass. (This piece apparently precedes the founding of Steuben though) CMoG thought this might be an appropriate piece for CMoG’s collection. Not for the usual collector reasons, for it is not likely Steuben, but just that it is a unique piece of Carder history that should be preserved for the public’s broader interest in Mr. Carder’s history.
Jane’s been in a quandary trying to figure out exactly what it is and its authenticity. Anyhow, she sent me the following results of her research. I thought it would be interesting to share and show the skills of research at CMoG and perhaps give insight into what museums look for and their thought process.

Here’s wishing CMoG good fortune in bidding on this piece for their collection.
I’ve spent the last week trying to research the vase and English silver overlay glass. The consensus is that it could be English, but it looks American to all of the silver
experts I consulted. However, since I know that Harry Northwood, John Northwood the 1st’s son was in London as the representative of several American glasshouses from
1900-1901, Carder could have ordered an American piece through Harry, if he had wanted to do that. Northwood was 65 in 1901 and getting sick; Carder was nominally in
charge of the decorating department at that time, so I’d guess that’s when it was presented. I don’t see any reason to think that the inscription isn’t genuine.