Use a Flashlight

from Lon Knickerbocker of Dansville, NY

“Unfortunately I was unable to attend the 2013 symposium and Deb and I also couldn’t make the banquet this year. We have been trying to get to the Rochester depression glass show for several years and their events are the same dates as the CSC annual symposium. This year we decided to in fact attend and join this local club for us. We do not collect depression glass but this group is so much more, they offer a nice show with glass made from the teens through the 50’s. We happen to collect a fairly scarce glass made by the McKee glass company and we were hoping to add to our collection, but alas, no pieces. Most of the dealers knew what we were trying to find and are on the look-out, we will hope for the best.

“I was able to do the CSC club show, so nice to see some of my good friends. Deb and I also had a dinner with a big group Friday evening and had a delightful time, we hope to continue this now 3 year tradition.

“Later Friday evening Deb and I ran into Alan and Susan Shovers at the Radisson Hotel, where they joined us for a nice chat about life, and what else but Carder Steuben glass. Somehow we got on the subject of Steuben signatures and why some pieces of Steuben are signed and others are not. Well I’ll leave it up to the really knowledgeable experts on why some are and others are not signed but I was able to tell Alan and Susan a lot more pieces are signed than what people realize. I asked Alan if he ever used the flashlight test, he replied he wasn’t aware of this. I explained just take a flashlight to the bottoms of your Carder Steuben pieces and when the light hits a signature it will jump right out at you, even a light signature shows up nicely. The really interesting thing Deb and I have discovered over the years is how many Verre de soie and Alabaster pieces are actually signed, almost always with the fleur de lis mark.

“Well I think all of us learned some things during our visit and the time went by much too fast. Alan and Susan are a pleasure to chat with and I want to thank Alan for his continued work on the Gazette, which has taught all of us so much over the last few years.”

Participate

from Judy Goldstein of Mokena, IL

I wish to express my thanks for the ongoing and fascinating discussions in the Gazette. For reasons not important here, I have been unable to actively participate in the Club for several years now, but that does not mean that I, probably along with many others, do not lurk and learn. Thanks to all who keep Mr. Carder’s memory alive and the website and databases active and current.

An Idea–An Award
from Debbie Tarsitano of Westford, MA
I really love “Remembrance” the Steuben sculpture commissioned by Debby and David. After seeing the piece and hearing their passionate speech it made me think of an idea that would not only honor Frederick Carder but bring to attention humanitarian crisis or situations in the world today. Carder created his own memorial window which tells us of his interest in creating work that honors and remembers.
It is really not my place, but as an artist I may like to suggest a Frederick Carder Award. This award would be presented each year at your Symposium to an artist who creates a glass sculpture in the Carder Steuben tradition evoking the importance of human rights throughout the world. A call to artists can be offered through the CMOG studio website and the piece can be chosen by a committee.

Without Debby and David inspiring Joel Smith, “Remembrance” would not exist. It is an important piece and the Club can inspire others to make important works through a Carder Award.
All the best,