The Carder Steuben Club is now celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Before the organization of the Club, The Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York, founded by Bob Rockwell, had the world’s largest and most complete public display of Mr. Carder’s Steuben. Some 2,500+ pieces, including a jewel like magnificent display of some of the best of the best, in what then was the Reifschlager gallery. The Rockwell had three collections. Western Art, antique toys and Carder Steuben Glass. The Rockwell had a support group called the “Friends of Carder” and they put on an annual Symposium and celebration of Mr. Carder and his creations. 10 years ago it was decided to convert the Rockwell to a western art museum and loan and move the Carder collection to building “B” at the Corning Museum of Glass, where it is now on display. Because of this move the Friends of Carder were disbanded at the Rockwell and a new group, independent of any museum or other group was organized, the Carder Steuben Club.

With that background we now turn to one of the activities of the Friends of Carder. Since 1993 they produced three punched loose-leaf reviews prepared by their members, curators, dealers, curators and other friends called “Collector’s Choice Review”. Members made regular selections from among their favorites in the Rockwell Museum’s collection of a piece, and then in their review provided a picture and their comments and observations on a piece selected. From 1993 until 1998 54 of these reviews were prepared.

Following the creation of the Carder Steuben Club and commencing in 2003 its members tried to resurrect the spirit of the Collectors Choice Review. However, this effort consisted of a less formal process. The selections were favorites of the particular volunteer author and not specifically items selected from the Rockwell collection. The new and resurrected concept took on the name of Collector’s Favorites. Some 17 of these were prepared, and ended for a lack of volunteers after the 2006 Symposium.

Having had little feedback from subscribers to this Gazette list with some new questions or other commentary I thought it might be interesting to periodically reproduce and share some of the Collector’s Favorites reviews for your enjoyment. See attached.

Any opinions expressed by participants to the Gazette are the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by or the opinions of the Carder Steuben Club