Back in the year 2000, there was a beautiful article in the September issue of Traditional Home magazine on Carder’s Jade glass.  Everyone who attended the Symposium that year received a copy of the article. The first two pages featured a composition of Ivory and Alabaster with Mirror Black.

Ted Loos wrote, “There’s something intriguing in the milky, mysterious look of it.  Always translucent but never transparent, jade glass reveals itself slowly. The creamy colors urge you to take a closer look.”   Tom Dimitroff is quoted, “The emphasis was always on quality.”  At a time when most people weren’t spending more than 50 cents on a vase, a Carder jade piece would have been $10 or $15, big money back then.

Ivory glass, a product of the ’20s and ’30s, is translucent, somewhat resembling the color of pressed “Custard.”  It has a bell-like quality when tapped and is thicker and heavier than many other Steuben glasses.  Most Ivory objects will not have the Fleur-de-lis mark. This glass should be readily recognized due to its distinctive color.  Its exterior is usually smooth.  The glass was blown into common patterns and each piece will have a smooth ground pontil.

Vases, some with acid etching, plus console bowls and candlesticks may be found. The Ivory forms were often contrasted with black. Here are more examples of Ivory.

The other white glass referred to in the article is Alabaster, which is a whiter white. Alabaster was introduced in the early decades of Steuben and named for the translucent white material it resembles.  It was also often paired with black, used as a base color for acid-etched objects and used as the base for decorated Aurenes. Here are some examples.

We are sorry to share that one of our CSGA members, David Riddle, passed away at the end of December.  His obituary may be found here.  His wife, Gayle, told us that David loved Steuben glass.  He had posted photos of their Steuben collection in our CSGA Facebook group, calling the pieces his “pets”.  Our condolences to all of David’s family and friends.