GlassNEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL Shards AMERICAN CLUB www.glassclub.org Founded 1933 A Non-Profit Organization Spring 2017

Seminar Registration Closing April 26

The NAGC welcomes members That afternoon, we will move to the features a silent auction of donated and other glass enthusiasts to its 33rd Huntington Museum of Art, the largest glass pieces and a talk by Arlie Sulka, annual Seminar, scheduled for May art museum in West . The mu- owner of Lillian Nassau LLC, who 11–13 in Charleston, . seum’s senior curator, Christopher regularly appears on PBS’s Antiques The seminar begins Thursday, May Hatten, will discuss Russel Wright’s Roadshow. 11, with a full-day coach excursion to experimental designs for the Fostoria Registration packets have been the West Virginia Museum of Ameri- Glass Company. A special display of mailed to member; and the detailed can Glass in Weston. The museum’s these rarely seen pieces will be mount- information is also available on our archivist, Tom Felt, will introduce us ed for our visit. Web site, www.glassclub.org. to their glass collection (over 18,000 Saturday will be a mix of free time Two deadlines are fast approaching: pieces on display) and later delve more to explore the capital city, its annual April 21, for hotel reservations at our deeply into their Martin Massman historic district yard/estate sale, and deeply discounted group rate, and Collection of Steuben Glass. informative lectures at the hotel. James April 26, for Seminar registration. Friday’s coach outing takes us to Measell, author and Fenton historian If you did not receive the mailing the Blenko Glass Factory in Milton, and archivist, will present “The Stour- or you have any questions, contact West Virginia. Dean Six, vice presi- bridge School of Art and the Glass In- Loreen Ryan at (914) 337-5554, dent of marketing and sales, will dustry.” Holly McCluskey, curator of e-mail at [email protected]; or address the company’s history and glass at the Oglebay Institute Mansion Karen Petraglia at (603) 714-1249, achievements. Our group will be giv- Museum, will bring us up to date on e-mail [email protected]. en free range to explore the factory the new additions to their glass mu­ floor, packing area, and design studio. seum. Saturday night’s banquet New Publication about Stevens & Williams

A recent book entitled The Dynasty Crystal). This book is principally Builder: The Hidden Diaries of Samu- about Samuel, his business and family el Cox Williams, Founder of Stevens life and is based on the diaries he kept and Williams, by David Williams- from 1869 to 1883. It also covers the Thomas, should be of interest to many history of the firm from the end of this glass collectors. The book is based on period up to 1998, when the family’s the diaries of one of the principal pro- involvement in the business ended. tagonists in the Victorian handmade The author, David Williams-Thomas, glass industry, Samuel Cox Williams, is Samuel’s great-great-grandson and the “Dynasty Builder.” Samuel lived ran the business throughout his own near Stourbridge for 40 years, found- working life. ing Stevens & Williams in 1846, and A full review by glass historian building it into the most important James Measell will appear in the June Art Glass manufacturer in the world 2017 issue of the NAGC Bulletin. (it was later to become Glass Shards • Page 2

2017 Spring Glass Show in Corning

Are you looking for a quick fix for engraved glass. This year we have ex- Saturday evening, there will be a your glass addiction? Right. Don’t panded the offerings to include some dinner at the Radisson Hotel. Reserva­ miss the glass show and sale being china and porcelain as well. American tions are required. Please contact the held at The Corning Museum of Glass, cut and engraved catalog reprints and show chairman for details. April 22­–23, 2017. Show hours are research materials will be available for Additional information about the 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, sale, and replacement stoppers can be weekend can be obtained by contact- and 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Sunday, April bought or traded. ing the show chairman, Harry Parker, 23. This event is hosted by The Cor­ Attendees are also invited to attend at (703) 425-5574, or visit the group’s ning Museum of Glass and presented an informative workshop on Friday, Facebook page at www.facebook.com by the Twin Tiers Glass Collectors. April 21, at 2 p.m. in the Rakow Re- /Twin-Tiers-Glass-Collectors-452865 Admission is free with museum ad- search Library’s seminar room. Gail 801572744 (or enter Twin Tiers Glass mission, or $5.00 at the auditorium Bardhan, Reference and Research Collectors in Facebook’s search bar). door. Preeminent glass dealers from Librarian, will lead a discussion on Visitors can take advantage of a across the will be ex­ how to research glass materials. She Radisson Hotel Corning special rate hibiting. The show’s emphasis will will also discuss accessing the Ra- over the weekend. Call the hotel di- be on American Brilliant cut and en- kow’s rich archives via the Internet. rectly at (607) 962-5000 and use the graved glass, but will also include LindaJo Hare will share information promo code CGLASS. Steuben, American art glass, English about period catalog images and how Come join us! Who knows, you and European art and engraved glass, they were produced. Samples of the might find a treasure or two! and early American cut glass and images and the blocks used to create them will be available.

Glass Penny

America got steel cents in 1943 in- The Mint Bureau began internal wreath designed by Anthony Paquet stead of glass, but a remnant of the experiments that eventually led to in the mid-19th century with the words World War II search for a copper sub- adoption of zinc coated steel for the “United States Mint” added in the stitute remains to tantalize collectors. 1943 coins. But the Mint also invited center. Researcher Roger W. Burdette has private companies to test various types The experiments were publicized in reported the only intact 1942 glass of plastic in the event metals were not trade magazines and officials at Blue experimental piece. Made by the Blue available. Ridge Glass Company in Kingsport, Ridge Glass Company it has been Several makers of plastic buttons Tenn., asked to participate. The Mint certified by the Professional Coin and other small items were loaned a had a pair of used dies sent from Colt Grading Service, graded PR-64. The pair of cent-size medal dies prepared Manufacturing Co., one of the plastics glass experimental piece is presently by Mint engraver John Sinnock. The experimenters, and Blue Ridge ob- held in a private collection, according obverse included a portrait of Liberty tained tempered glass “blanks” (or to Burdette. copied from the Columbia two centa- “preforms”) from Corning Glass Co. As he tells its full story, it is made vos. The reverse design was a simple from tempered, yellow-amber trans- parent glass. It is identical in die align- ment to the only other known example, which is broken in half. This is de- scribed and illustrated on pages 95–96 in the book Pattern and Experimental Pieces of WW-II by Burdette. During 1942, the U.S. Mint was searching for a substitute for copper used in the one-cent coin. Copper was a critical war materiel and the War Production Board refused to allocate enough to the Mint to make cents for the next year. Glass penny. Glass Shards • Page 3

President’s Letter

Dear Friends, attendance. Everyone was welcoming, For the past two years, I have been helpful, and encouraging and several telling you the sad news about the Spring has arrived to South Jersey individuals became my mentors. Forty- collectors and friends we have lost. and the daffodils and forsythia are one years later, the 2017 seminar will Somehow we overlooked the passing blooming. This is my last letter as be held in Charleston, West Virginia. of James “Jim” Davidson who passed President. I have been a member of If you have not had been able to visit away last year. Jim was a member of NAGC since the 1970s and have the West Virginia Museum of Ameri- the Chapter, served on the served on the Board in several posi- can Glass with its vast glass collection, NAGC Board and was Membership tions. I sincerely recommend joining now is your chance. Also it is a great chair for nearly ten years. Jim took the Board and participating in the opportunity to see demonstrations at over the job after Bill and Nancy direction of the NAGC organization. the and view- Sheriff retired from their long service I have made lifelong friends and ing the Huntington Museum of Art’s doing the membership. Jim comput­ learned so much about glass. glass collection. A special treat will erized the membership listing and The first seminar I attended was the be our banquet speaker Arlie Sulka, brought his organizational skills to National Capitol Glass Seminar spon- owner of Lillian Nassau LTD special- the position. He was an avid milk sored by the National Early American izing in and appraiser glass collector and a member of the Glass Club in 1976 at the Kenwood for PBS’ Antiques Roadshow since Milk Glass Collectors Association. Country Club in Bethesda . 1998. She will be telling us about her I hope to see you all in West I was young and new to the glass experiences from the road. Don’t miss Virginia. community. Needless to say, I was this wonderful experience and being in awe of the important glass authors, with your fellow glass collectors again. — Gay LeCleire Taylor curators and collectors who were in President

Museum of Glass Unites Traditional Elegance with Contemporary Flair

“Ispirazione: James Mongrain in and can be effectively merged with exceptional vision. I appreciate that the George R. Stroemple Collection” the dynamism of the 21st century. James pushed himself to make his is the result of a four-year collabora- Stroemple and Mongrain share a best work to date for the Stroemple tion between artist James Mongrain common passion for Venetian tech- Collection.” (American, born 1968) and collector niques that resulted in a dynamic new George R. Stroemple that began in body of work. Mongrain is an artist 2012. Stroemple, an avid collector of who has taken every opportunity to 19-century , challenged contemplate the secrets of Italian Mongrain to draw inspiration from . Stroemple is interna- the vintage pieces in his collection, tionally recognized for his contem­ giving the artist free reign to engage porary art collection, which, in part, with any of the objects that sparked documents the Studio Glass move- his interest. Mongrain, a highly- ment in the Pacific Northwest. He has skilled maker of goblets in the Vene- a special interest in fostering creative tian tradition, was inspired by the relationships with artists, and his col- pieces in Stroemple’s collection— laboration with James Mongrain is they resonated with his own personal true to form. He describes their rela- artistic style. The resulting work is tionship as exceptional: “I always large and powerful, fresh and new, enjoy the opportunity to work with an and it showcases Mongrain’s incredi- artist to realize a new body of work, ble hot-sculpting technique that cap- work that perhaps would not have tures the quintessential character of been made had we not entered into each mythical creature and historical the complicated collaboration of artist form. The work is steeped in tradi- and patron. There is no doubt in my tion, yet combines a new energy and mind that James is an artist who looks vibrancy that makes a profound state- to the past for inspiration, but he trans- Detail, Poseidon with Two Seahorses by James ment: the heritage of the past endures lates the rich Venetian legacy using his Mongrain (from Poseidon Series), 2015. Glass Shards • Page 4

Chrysler Museum to Host 2017 GAS Conference

The Society (GAS) select- masterworks, as well as windows, and Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava ed the Chrysler Museum of Art and lamps, and decorative arts. The con- Brychtová. its Perry Glass Studio as host for the temporary glass collection includes The state-of-the-art Perry Glass 46th annual conference, Reflections representations of the Studio Glass Studio, launched in 2011 to comple- from the Edge: Glass, Art, and Per- Movement and works that illustrate ment the Museum’s glass collection, formance. From June 1–3, 2017, atten­ new, innovative practices in contempo- helps demonstrate how masterworks dees will experience technical glass rary glass. Recent acquisitions include in the collection were created. The demonstrations on various glass proc­ historic glass by and Studio offers free public glassmaking esses and topics; lectures on science Christopher Dresser and contempo- demonstrations, classes, and work- and art; and special events such as a rary works by renowned artists such shops for all levels of expertise. Over local Gallery Hop, Goblet Grab, Inter- as Beth Lipman, Luke Jerram, Etsuko the past four years, its Visiting Artist national Student Exhibition, and Live Ichikawa, Steffen Dam, Jun Kaneko, Series has brought many of the and Silent Auction. world’s great names to Norfolk to GAS selected the Chrysler, in part, create new works of art as the public on the strengths of its renowned glass watches. collection and its state-of-the-art Perry Both the Museum and the Glass Glass Studio’s growing national repu- Studio also serve as an anchor for tation in the world of glass, especially Norfolk’s blossoming arts district. its groundbreaking glass theatrical New Energy of Norfolk, or NEON, performances. launched in fall 2015 and invites The Chrysler Museum of Art boasts visual, performing, culinary, and a collection of more than 10,000 works touring artists to transform several in glass, including American, English,­ downtown blocks an into a synergis- and French glass. The Museum’s ex- tic urban hub for creativity. tensive Tiffany collection is world- Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum famous, containing many blown glass of Art. Photo: Ed Pollard.

First Major Exhibition Dedicated to Tiffany’s Glass Mosaics to Be Presented

The very first exhibition to explore The exhibition provides a unique op- Louis C. Tiffany’s glass mosaics—an portunity to take in the breadth of this extraordinary but little-known aspect aspect of Tiffany’s work. of his artistic production—will be “We are thrilled to partner with The presented by The Corning Museum Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass of Glass from May 20, 2017, to on this groundbreaking exhibition. . . .” January 7, 2018. “Tiffany’s Glass said Karol Wight, president and exec- Mosaics,” organized jointly by Cor­ utive director of The Corning Museum ning and The Neustadt Collection of of Glass. “The history of glass mosaics Tiffany Glass, will combine works extends back more than 3,000 years, from both collections, with important and the permanent collection at Cor­ loans and specially designed digital ning is the perfect backdrop for con- displays to reveal how Tiffany’s mo- textualizing the work undertaken by saics reflect this aspect of his studio’s Tiffany’s firm to popularize this tech- artistry and innovation in glass. The nique in the United States.” exhibition will feature nearly 50 works The exhibition will reveal the proc­ dating from the 1890s to the 1920s, ess of creating a mosaic at Tiffany’s from intimately scaled mosaic fancy studios—through detailed watercolor goods designed for use in the home studies and drawings to surviving glass to large-scale mosaic panels and archi­ ­ sample panels and examples of com- Panel, Fathers of the Church. Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, designed by tectural elements composed of thou- pleted work. Joseph Lauber, about 1892. The Neustadt sands of individual pieces of glass. Collection of Tiffany Glass, , NY. Glass Shards • Page 5 Glass Calendar (Confirmation of dates and schedules advised. More information is available on ourWeb page at www.glassclub.org)

April 1–May 7, 2017 held at the Eastern Greenwich Civic **** WHEATON ARTS Center in Old Greenwich, . AND CULTURAL CENTER Along with up to 60 prominent dealers, May 20, 2017 Mastery in Glass: The Journey the show features free parking, glass Annual Spring Sale of Paul J. Stankard repair, identification booth, luncheon, JEFFREY S. EVANS & ASSOC. 1501 Glasstown Road and afternoon tea. A special presenta- P.O. Box 2638 Millville, NJ 08332 tion by a prominent glass expert is of- Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2638 (856) 825.6800 fered to all attending the show. (540) 434-3939 www.wheatonarts.org www.jeffreysevans.com **** This exhibit celebrates the mastery of glass artist Paul J. Stankard. Paul’s April 22–23, 2017 love of nature perfectly harmonizes Brilliant Glass in Corning Show with his exceptional execution of TWIN TIERS GLASS technique. Join us as we examine COLLECTORS Paul’s early Experimental works from The Auditorium at The Corning his own personal collection as well as Museum of Glass his newest series of Orbs celebrating 1 Museum Way the healing virtues of plants and cre- Corning, NY 14830 ativity. (703) 425-5574 [email protected] Our annual spring sale will feature **** www.facebook.com/events the collections of glass author and /1211953098820663 scholar Joan E. Kaiser of Sandwich, April 8-9, 2017 MA, and the late Roger Gehman of WESTCHESTER GLASS CLUB American Brilliant cut, engraved, , PA. The Kaiser collection Collectors Glass and Ceramics Show art and early glass show and sale. comprises a selection of Sandwich and Sale and South glass of all types Greenwich Civic Center **** including many pieces published in 90 Harding Road Barlow/Kaiser, The Glass Industry in Old Greenwich, CT May 5–6, 2017 Sandwich, volumes 1–5, and Kaiser, www.westchesterglassclub.com 62ND ANNUAL EASTERN The Glass Industry in South Boston. [email protected] NATIONAL ANTIQUE SHOW A printed color catalog of the entire & SALE Kaiser collection will be available. Carlisle Expo Center The Gehman collection features a 100 K Street selection of Pittsburgh and other Carlisle, PA early cut glass, free-blown and pillar- (410) 538-558 or (443) 617-1760 molded wares, EAPG including a easternnationalantiques.com 300+ piece collection of Pleat & Panel, Jumbo, &c. Other consignments in- 70 dealers from 20 states selling clude flasks, bottles, and more. fine glass, china, jewelry, collectibles and more; 10 exhibits by glass clubs **** and museums; free parking. June 23–24, 2017 The Westchester Glass Club Collec- NATIONAL CAMBRIDGE tors Show and Sale has been an annual COLLECTORS event since 1976 and continues to be Annual Show and Convention arguably the best glass show in Amer- Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center ica, drawing dealers and collectors 7033 Glenn Highway from across the country. Over the past Cambridge, OH 43725 28 years the show and sale has been http://cambridgeglass.org Glass Shards • Page 6

Pairpoing Glass: The Bryden Years

The Sandwich Glass Museum the firm’s last general manager, a glass factory in Sagamore, which presents “Pairpoint Glass:­ The Bryden moved the operation to a smaller fa- opened in 1970. Years (1970–1988),” on view through cility in East Wareham and renamed While managing the company, June 11, 2017. the business the Pairpoint Glass Com- Robert Bryden experimented with In 1970, a small glass factory, Pair- pany. Bryden’s new venture lasted Pairpoint colors including Peachblow point Glass Works, was established by about six months, closing in March and Burmese. Initially the company Robert Bryden in the neighboring town 1958. During the 1960s, Bryden trav- produced a variety of blown wares of Sagamore, . It was the elled to Europe, where he became a influenced by traditional Pairpoint first time that hot glass was made on freelance glassmaker, manufacturing designs, but by 1974 the firm began Cape Cod in a factory setting sincethe handmade items with the Pairpoint pressing glassware, including the very demise of glassmaking in Sandwich name. In 1968 he returned to build popular cup plate. in 1907. It produced a wide variety of The exhibit features pieces from the wares that were influenced by Pair- collections of Pairpoint glassworkers, point’s long history in New Bedford. including many one-of-a-kind objects Bryden began his glassmaking and rare examples of Amberina, Bur- career in New Bedford, Massachusetts, mese, and Peachblow. Also displayed after taking a tour of the New Bedford are paperweights, perfume bottles, and glass factory in 1950. His interest in commissioned items. glassmaking grew to a point that he decided to join Gunderson Glass Works SANDWICH GLASS MUSEUM as a trainee. In 1957, the glassworks 129 Main Street ceased operations due to stiff compe- Sandwich MA 02563

tition from post-war imports. Bryden, www.sandwichglassmuseum.org

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