Ephemera–what is it? This morning I went to a couple of glass dictionaries and couldn’t find it defined or described. I looked in my general dictionary and found the word, but not a relevant description as it related to glass. Well, I know from those who collect ephemera, like Bob Mueller of Minneapolis that is the written word and diagrams in paper form.
For example, many department stores selling Carder Steuben in the 1920s gave out loose leaf ads featuring selected pieces of glass with marketing language e.g. “Ever Lovely Forms with the Sparkle of Starlight” and then on the back more detailed description of pieces, along with a shape number.
Great source of verifying a piece of glass as Carder Steuben, and confirming colors. If you have a piece of one of items shown in an ad and were wondering if it was Celeste Blue, French Blue or Flemish Blue, and the ad says it was made in Flemish Blue, that may end that discussion and debate. There are any number of monographs and not well known limited publications. For example, “Steuben Glass: The Carder Years” published in 1984 by Museum of Fine Arts of St. Petersburg, Fl. which was a companion piece to an exhibit. Or, “La Belle Epoque” an exhibition catalogue of the New Orleans Museum of Art for their exhibit of Art Glass 1880-1920 from the Collection of John W. Lolley. Or, things like the 1932 Steuben Glass catalogue, or the Steuben Architectural Cast Glass catalogue. Articles in Glass Collector’s Digest or International Perfume Association Bulletins.
Well, the list goes on and on. Also, a number of these items are pictured in Tom Dimitroff’s book.
The point is that each one of these “paper” items gives some clue, reinforcement of an opinion or some insight that helps us understand and appreciate Mr. Carder’s glass all the better While finding these items may be difficult, the more important problem is what is it that we might be looking for?
What brings all this up. Well, I just bought a glass book, not focused on Carder, but found some new insights. To be followed in another e-mail. With all of this what can we do now? Well Scott Hansen, the co-chairman of this year’s Symposium, Sept. 18-20 at the Corning Museum, came up with the idea of asking attendees who have some ephemera to share to bring it along. After lunch on Friday we’ll have tables set up and we can browse the ephemera and find out some surprising things that are out there. Perhaps answer a question or two about a piece we may have. Settle a doubt. Confirm a long held, but unproven opinion. Could be a fascinating part of the program.