Thursday, February 02, 2012

Opinions keep coming. It’s obvious that our members have varying feelings about adding Modern Steuben Collectors to the Club. We continue to share your responses and welcome more. So, the Gazette will continue publishing the many comments we’ve received in the coming days.

In addition to Jane Spillman’s spot-on thoughts is the fact that Frederic Carder played a significant and influential role in the transition to “modern” Steuben and continued to be an important figure at Corning Glass thereafter.

Stephen Gleissner
Chief Curator
Wichita Art Museum

I am only interested in Carder art glass. As a group, we have made much progress in deciphering patterns, colors, etc, but we still have a long way to go in order to offer and assist collectors one hundred years from now on definitive materials for this unique glass. I would prefer to keep an organization intact that focuses only on Carder glass before the modern glass was made.

Very truly yours,

Kathleen A. Herdell, St. Helena, California

First, I am not a member. That said, I have observed this group thru the club emails for some time. I have seen a willingness to share information, and have friendly debates on various subjects, not always related to Carder. The group seems to be gaining members this year. Many other groups I have seen are dead or dying at this time.

My opinion;

I hope no persons with interest in the post Carder glass gets to read the negative posts. None of us lives forever but companies often outlast us mortals. Be more inclusive and grow. The membership will increase and your passion and knowledge for the Carder glass will inspire those who join to also add some to their own collections.

Side note;

The more people who want a product, the more it will be valued. You already know the beauty of Carder glass, but your mission should be to tell the rest of the world why and be able and willing to take every opportunity to do so.

Best luck in whatever direction you choose.

Charles Sweigart, Reinholds, Pennsylvania

Dear Alan,

I have learned much at the feet of the members of the Carder Steuben Club. And I too can see both sides of the argum….er “discussion” about possibly including the modern colorless Steuben.

While my personal preference is the old, and while we know that Frederick Carder’s preference was for color, much has been made about the resilience of that very gifted man. In the face of a changing market, the powers that were decided to change the game on him and take from him the job and medium he loved. Did that stop him? Heavens no! He learned to adapt and use his skills for new works and projects. Change wasn’t easy, but he met the challenge.

Perhaps a similar challenge is before us? Will it mean incorporating modern? Will it mean giving birth to a new and different club that focuses on the modern?

In my business I have had to incorporate things into my antique store to appeal to a younger customer raised to believe that the furnishings that I love are SO 1890s! (Well, bless their hearts, they don’t even KNOW they are 1890s…all they know is that they look like moms golden oak and depression glass antiques and they are decidedly NOT interested.) But OH how they adore the sleek lines of Heywood Wakefield Hollywood style furniture and even Danish Modern! What glass goes with this? Why modern Steuben, of course! Certainly in their circles the glass that was designed in that era will be fascinating to learn about. And yes, if they learn what came before it, we just might educate them to the mastery that is Frederick Carder Glass.

That’s my two cents. Well…more like twenty five! 🙂

Thank you for allowing this discussion to continue. 🙂 Lisa Ackerman, Orange, California

I have been a member of this club for only a year, although I have been collecting blue aurene for about 30. Based on my experience with antique car clubs, those with limited scope are more beneficial to the members, but may have trouble surviving financially. (What kills them is the cost of publishing a journal, which you have wisely avoided.) But even an on-line journal will become boring if much of what it covers is outside my area of interest. I vote for retaining the present scope.

Jim Dunne, Norwich, NY

www.cardersteubenclub.org

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

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