SOME PERSPECTIVE

May 11, 2009
Issue 560

From Gerry Eggert of Rochester, NY on identifying glass.

Alan,
The issue is further clouded by the fact that Steuben, Sinclair, and Hawkes each helped the others out when one had a big order they could not fill on time. They borrowed glass formulas from each other. I have a definite Steuben shape and color with a Sinclair mark. Clearly a Steuben shape and color, not Sinclair.
I was in Corning last Friday and was on Market Street. As I stood in front of the Hawkes factory, I was but 200 yards from the site of the Steuben factory. I do not know where the Sinclair factory was, but it must have been close to the other two. Very easy communication of ideas, orders, goods, and glassware between all 3. And then there was Tom Dimitroff”s metal company that salvaged Steuben ware for sale rather than dumping the piece. I left a nice Steuben tazza off with Kitty Erlacher to show to Jane. It demonstrates what materials and fine craftsmanship was used to salvage a damaged Steuben piece. So there must have been a lot of cooperation, communication, and working together by all the Corning Companies. At the time there was real competition for Art Glass sales and markets, both from domestic companies (Tiffany, Durand, Bach, Pairpoint, etc. ) as well as European and Asian companies.
Corning is a little town many miles from the major markets of New York, Chicago, Philly, Boston, etc. Not many sales of high end products in Corning and the surrounding area. That’s why the high end Steuben in found in major cities and “lunch box” Steuben is found locally. Incomes in the Corning area were low in the early 20th Century compared to the upper classes in major metropolitan areas. The same income relationship exists today.
Any thoughts on this matter.
Regards,
Gerry

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