We’re Back

In Friday’s Gazette we asked subscribers to renew their membership or consider joining the Carder Steuben Club by going to www.cardersteubenclub.org
Low and behold, the web site was down. We’re happy to report that it is back and operational.

Cyprian

Webmaster, Marshall Ketchum responds to questions about identification:

The definition of Cyprian is clearly spelled out in Gardner page 67 in the last paragraph. I would expand the definition somewhat to include other forms of Celeste Blue decoration on Aqua Marine glass.

In answer to Lon Knickerbocker’s question there are pieces of Verre de Soie with Celeste Blue decoration as well as Cyprian on the website. As he points out it is sometimes difficult to tell Verre de Soie from Aqua Marine which can increase the problem. I think that there is no question the both Verre de Soie with Celeste Blue decoration as well as Cyprian made during the Carder era. There could be errors on the site if I can’t tell if the glass is Aqua Marine or just VDS from the photo that was submitted.

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Rande Bly of Birmingham, AL adds further on Cyprian:

I was taught the same as Marshall Ketcum that Cyprian was the same as Aqua Marine with a Celeste Blue Rim wrap. This is from Gardner’s teachings on page 67. I reviewed the pictures of Verre de Soie at the web site and only found two shapes with the blue rim wrap in Verre de Soie. Keep in mind although there are many Verre de Soie pieces with Celeste Blue decoration we are looking for the rim wrap pieces ONLY. Pieces with Celeste Blue stoppers, handles, and threading don’t count. Only the 2956 candlestick and the 2028 plate had the rim wrap. When you go to the line drawing of the 2956 Candlestick it tells us it comes in Cyprian. I assume the line drawing is correct and it is misidentified as Verre de Soie at the web site.

The green in Aqua Marine is so faint (reminds me of Window Glass Green) that I have to look into the rims to see the green color. Well unfortunately the rims are covered in blue with Cyprian making it impossible to view the piece from the rim.

I believe Window Glass Green is made with 22 ounces of Manganese per 1000 pounds of glass as it’s only coloring agent. A de-coloring agent actually. It was designed to remove most of the natural green created by iron in the silica. This left a VERY pale green that some people cannot even see unless viewed at the rim. Manganese is slightly black light reactive emitting a very soft glow under black light. There is a good chance Cyprian is the same pale green with tin chloride spray. It is my suggestion that Cyprian will have a soft glow under black light also just like Window Glass Green. I have tested Window Glass Green and it does have the soft manganese glow I do not have a piece of Cyprian to test right now. Verre de Soie will have no reaction to black light.

I feel in the long run Gardner will be shown to be correct. However, I learned a long time ago never say never with Carder and I suggest a black light test on the candlestick may reveal additional information. I feel a discussion on Rose DuBarry and Coral is also warranted.

After Hours

Brian Severn of Brentwood, California asks:

I’m typically am fairly knowledgeable about Carder era Steuben glass, and do a good job at identifying it. That said, I also know a fair amount of “after hours” pieces came out of there, and I’m wonder if this little cameo glass/acid cutback fan vase might be such a piece? It measures 4.25 x 2.75 inches.