Mousselene Debate

Rande Bly of Birmingham responds

Thanks for the response Marshall. It was always more fun when everyone debated these issues more often a couple of years ago. I love a good debate. It always helps the truth to surface and gives the other readers something to think about.

I see you find issue with batch weights versus smaller usages of glass. When did Carder ever make 800-1000 lbs of Mandarin Yellow or Rouge Flambe? What about Cintra glass for the decoration of Mat-su-no-ke , Turquoise Jade, Tyrian, etc. etc.? Carder knew how to do the math for small batches. Glass is made by percentages and converted to weight. To think that Carder only made glass in accordance to 1000 pound batches is….what were the words you used….preposterous.

Next you admitted you did not know what Ripple was and then guessed I did not either. You also stated the 1932 catalog did not use the term Ripple but that it was found in factory records. Please do not mislead our readers. You forgot to check first. I welcome others to go and look. It is there plain as day.

Think for a moment about the ways the 2909 comes and all the pieces and pictures we have seen of the 2909. It comes plain, engraved, and Ripple. In layman’s terms this means plain, engraved, and optic ribs. Go to the web site and see how 2909 comes. The finish column is where they list optic{diamond), twist(6030), sculptured, etched, and heavy cut, etc.. We are clearly now shown it also comes in Mousselene. Well perhaps that is worth looking into.

Third point I would like to make is I am standing here looking at the opalescent in the glass. After 40 years of Steuben I should be able to know what opalescent is. My Ivory piece of Mousselene is glowing under the black light when I know and you have told me that Ivory is not black light reactive. This is scientific proof the formula has been altered. I suggest you and the glass authority hang in there until the article about the Tyndall effect in opalescent glass gets published and research what I am saying. Perhaps we can all learn something together. After all is it not the goal to further our understanding of the field of Carder Steuben?

Water Lamp

from David Donaldson of Orlando, FL

If I am getting the description correct from the Carder assigned “Title”, these were/could be filled with water…..color and option of your choice, and a rubber or cork stopper fitted with a rod mounted light socket and a cord which came from the bottom-side of the socket. I have seen other lamps with this wiring configuration. One was even filled with buckshot for its ballast. However, the interesting thing about colorless glass when filled with clear water, appears to be solid. This was Louis Tiffany’s approach to his Laurelton Hall fountain vase which has mechanized color wheels beneath it.