Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Of the older texts on Carder lore is a two volume set written by Eric Ericson. Since I’ve been a collector I’ve heard collectors speak quite critically of these texts. However, in recent years I’ve also heard that some of the things questioned in the books as to accuracy, have been shown by later recordings of interviews with Mr. Carder to have, in fact, been correct. Perhaps some of the criticism haven’t been justified. At any rate I received the following question about Ericson’s books and it might be interesting to see what comments it elicits.

Hi Alan,

I just returned from a short vacation in the San Francisco Bay area. I am happy to report that I managed once again to net some Steuben stems in my antiquing, at the monthly Alameda Point flea market. This after snagging an ivory Steuben vase there two years ago.

However, the real subject of this message is the two books on Carder-era Steuben that were authored by Eric E. Ericson in 1961 and 1964. I have copies, but had never actually read them through. Since they are small, and I would need reading material for the airport waits and during my flights, I brought them along on my trip, and read both cover to cover (along with the Hotchkiss book from 1972.)

I am curious as to what the modern-day verdict on them is. I realize that much, much more has been written in the interim, that more information has surfaced, and that errors in these books have since been corrected. But I was wondering whether any of the information in them is still useful or reliable.

I found them difficult to wade through, given Mr. Ericson’s convoluted (at least by modern standards) syntax. I majored in English literature, so I have read Chaucer and Milton and other long-ago authors, and thus am able to understand writing in styles that are not modern. But at times I was not able to grasp the ideas that he was attempting to express.

I also noticed that he tended to claim that pretty much “everything” was difficult to find. I disagreed with such pronouncements as they related to pieces in jade green and Rosaline, for example, as these seem fairly prevalent on today’s marketplace. But perhaps this is the function of the availability of a greater number of pieces on the internet, a lack of modern interest in these two colors, or some other explanation.

I realize that this discussion may get us into discussions of personalities and “history,” and I don’t want to stir up any negativity or harsh criticism. I would just like to know whether these books are of much use to today’s collector.

www.cardersteubenclub.org

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