DURAND GLASS
By Robert Mueller

Durand Art Glass was a serious competitor to the likes of Steuben Glass and Tiffany during the hey days of iridescent glass.

Victor Durand, Jr. was born in Baccarat , France in 1870 to a family of glassmakers, his father and grandfather. Victor Durand, Jr. left Baccarat, France at age 14 in 1884 with the rest of his family to join his father at Whitall-Tatum and Company, located in Millville , New Jersey . A few years later he would join Wheaton Glass Company.

In 1897 Mr. Durand would have a chance to open up his own company, Vineland Flint Glass Works in Vineland , New Jersey . Over the years they would produce opal and colored glass bathroom fixtures.

In 1923 Mr. Durand would hit gold following the misfortune of Quezal Glass closing it doors. With an artistic worker by the name of Martin A. Bach Sr. now looking for another job, Mr. Durand was there to offer him a job at Vineland Flint Glass, which he took. Also a gentleman by the name of Emil Larsen was on board to start an art glass department.

Mr. Durand himself would design a great deal of the pieces of glass produced at Durand with the help of Emil Larsen and Martin Bach. As 1926 came around a very young company would be honored at the Sesquicentennial International Exposition in Philadelphia with the Medal of Honor for artistic glass.

By this time, Durand Glass was challenging Steuben Glass and Tiffany, with their iridescent glass. Some of their highly sought glass that now brings some very outstanding prices and great recognition includes its Hearts and Vine line, King Tut, Lady Gay Rose, Crackle and Lustre Ware. Also, they produced colored crystals that then and now were well executed.

Many collectors confuse Durand’s colored crystal glass with other makers. Their tableware was usually found with a colored rim added to the piece. Their color combinations seems to have been a popular match at the time then and now.

Victor Durand also delved into the cut glass field. For a company that would have a somewhat short life, they added the cut glass to their line in 1925. The company did not have as many colors as it competitors, but their cut glass was well accepted by the public at this time.

As the years went on Durand Glass would merge with Kimble Glass in 1931. With a poor economy, something else would happen to the company in 1931, and that would be the death of Victor Durand in a fatal car accident on his way home from business.

As current day collectors look at Durand Glass they must give proper credit to Victor Durand and his superb assemblage of workers for the great glass they produced in the short life of this company. Seven years in the business is not that long, but the examples now found are a testament to the great ability Mr. Durand had at starting a company and quickly delivering, in 1926, an award of prominence for great glass creations.

I feel Durand is in the class of Tiffany, Stueben and Quezal.

See

http://www.kddk.com/alans/Durand.pdf for pictures of Durand.

Bob Mueller
Osseo, Minnestoa
September 29, 2009