Reflections

David Donaldson, you need bigger cases to enjoy the beauty. R Tremont. Indiana

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Now that is a collection of great shades! Gwen Stebbins

Resources

After running information on Donald Donaldson’s shades last week, we asked him to recommend the best resources for finding out more about shades. His response:

Hi Alan,

I would recommend both Robert’s books, American Art Nouveau Glass by AC Revi, and of course Paul Gardner’s book.

I personally used to spend hours chatting with Bobby Rockwell on the department store third floor and studying the shades.

I keep waiting for one of the younger guys to write a new book, but so far no luck. There are some rather extensive collections….of course; the Kwans’ is superb.

Cheers,

David Donaldson

Atlantica

from Scott Hansen

This photo is an image of Sidney Waugh with his “Atlantica” sculpture. The back of the photo reads: “Largest Crystal Statue Ready For World’s Fair”: Sidney Waugh, noted sculptor and glass designer, with his recently completed “Atlantica”, which will be placed on exhibition in the Glass Center at the New York World’s Fair. The statue, the largest clear crystal piece ever made, commemorates the first industry to cross the ocean to the New World. It is over three feet high and required several months to cast and polish.” The photo is dated January 24, 1939. (Photo credit Acme Newspapers).

Atlantica is on permanent display at the Corning Museum of Glass. You can see it if you attend the Symposium this year (September 14 to 16). The catalog description for the piece reads in part: “Atlantica was created for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Conceived by Steuben designer Sidney Waugh (1904-1963), this 300-pound sculpture of a mermaid riding on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean commemorates the start of glassmaking in America by European immigrants. Atlantica required a team of five glassworkers to pour the molten glass into the sculpture’s mold. Another three workers polished the sculpture, which took several months to complete.”

Additional information can be found in MJ Madigan’s book, Steuben Glass: American Tradition in Crystal, pages 82-85, 202.

Follow Up on Fostoria Discussion

Hi Alan

Weighing in on the shade discussion last week, there is a Fostoria art glass shade collector from the Fostoria, Ohio area. The collector’s name is John Webber. I do not have a good email for him but in the event anyone knows of him, maybe he would share his knowledge with the group. He is the Fostoria shade expert in my opinion.If anyone knows him or if I can find his records, I think it would be interesting to see what he says. He is, in my humble opinion, the leading authority on Fostoria shades in the country.

Thank you

Gwen Stebbins

Lilaby Creek Antiques