Dinner Conversation

from Mike Manginella of Escondido (San Diego), CA

In my short time being part of the Steuben Glass group, if I was asked what word would best describe the groups’ interests, the word I would answer is color. But at the beginning of Steuben, that word had a completely different meaning. Thomas G. Hawkes drafted Carder to come to America to make blanks for T.G. Hawkes so Thomas could better control his costs of obtaining blanks as well as new blank designs. Carder jumped at the idea, getting a chance to be in charge of a glass factory. So for Carder and Hawkes, the idea of color initially was a pure crystal, actually devoid of any color or tint; odd how things change.

Over a dinner conversation with Alan Shovers, we were talking about what we always do…glass. He was asking me about Carder’s engravings and people…engravers…a topic I can’t help but talk about. I told him I had started notes for some future talk on this, but Alan was thinking of something in writing for the Gazette. So I’ll add some more tomorrow.

Shape: 1284

Form:Pitcher

Color: Colorless

Type: Engraved

Cutting/Engraving: Unknown

Size: 10.5 in high