Love of Copper Wheel Engraving

from Frederick Carder: Portrait of a Glassmaker by Paul V. Gardner, p. 27-28

Although Carder was as vehement in expressing his dislike for cut glass after he arrived in America as he had been in England he could not overlook the public demand for this traditionally popular decoration, and he exploited the technique in many appealing ways. The Steuben cutting shop, located on the top floor of the old Payne Foundry building, operated continuously during Carder’s management. His skilled cutters produced about 200 decorated patterns on elaborate console sets, stately covered jars, monumental centerpieces, and a few table services. Among the rarest cut pieces are an ornamental peacock, pheasant, eagle, and Pegasus, a fanciful concept of the fabled winged horse.

In contrast to his avowed lack of fondness for cut glass, Carder loved copper-wheel engraving. Most of Steuben’s engraved designs were executed by artisans who worked in shops set up in their homes. These men would come to the Steuben factory, pick up the glass blanks and drawings of the patterns Carder had designed, and carry them home. When they had completed their work, they brought the engraved pieces back for Carder’s inspection and acceptance. If these pieces did not meet the standards he set, Carder lost no time in “cussing out” the culprits. The experienced engravers, such as Joseph Libisch and Henry Keller, recalled that one such reprimand was usually enough to insure their maintenance of high quality demanded by “the old man,” as many employees referred to Carder “behind his back.”