GlassNEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL Shards AMERICAN GLASS 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 Virginia. The mu- owner of Lillian Nassau LLC, who 11–13 in Charleston, West Virginia. 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 Royal Brierley 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 United States 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 Baltimore 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 Blenko Glass Company 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 Tiffany glass 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 Maryland.