Steuben Glass Works
Encyclopedia
Steuben Glass Works was an American art glass
manufacturer, founded in the summer of 1903 by Fredrick C. Carder
and Thomas G. Hawkes in Corning, New York
, which is in Steuben County, from which the company name was derived. Hawkes was the owner of the largest cut glass firm then operating in Corning. Carder was an Englishman (born 18 September 1863) who had many years' experience designing glass for Stevens and Williams in England
. Hawkes purchased the glass blanks for his cutting shop from many sources and eventually wanted to start a factory to make the blanks himself. Hawkes convinced Carder to come to Corning and manage such a factory. Carder, who had been passed over for promotion at Stevens and Williams, consented to do so.
In July 2008, Steuben was sold by Corning Incorporated for an undisclosed price to the Schottenstein Stores Corp.
, which also owns 51% of Retail Ventures, a holding company for DSW, Filene's Basement, and formerly Value City Department Stores; Value City Furniture, which changed its name to American Signature Furniture; 15% of American Eagle Outfitters, retail liquidator SB Capital Group, some 50 shopping centers, and 5 factories producing its shoes, furniture and crystal.
On September 15, 2011, Schottenstein announced it was shutting down Stueben's Corning factory and Manhattan store, ending the company's 108-year history.
and others. Gold Aurene was followed by a wide range of colored art glass that eventually was produced in more than 7,000 shapes and 140 colors.
Steuben Glass Works continued to produce glass of all sorts until World War I
. At that time war time restrictions made it impossible for Steuben to acquire the materials needed to continue manufacture. The company was subsequently sold to Corning Glass Works and became the Steuben Division. Carder continued as Division manager without any real change in the company's operation except that he now had reporting responsibilities to Corning Glass Works' management. Corning's management tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to limit the articles that Steuben made to only the most popular. Production continued until about 1932.
In 1932 there was a major change in Steuben management. The nationwide depression had limited the sale of Steuben and there was also a lessening of public interest in colored glass. In February 1932, John MacKay was appointed to Carder's position and Carder became Art Director, Corning Glass Works. Steuben then produced primarily colorless art glass whose production continues to this day.
Steuben still produced colored art glass mostly to fill special orders; a few new colors were added after Carder lost control of the company. The last known sale for colored art glass by Steuben was in 1943.
as President in 1933, and under his leadership Steuben changed artistic direction toward more modern forms. Using a newly formulated clear glass developed by Corning (referred to as 10M) which had a very high refraction index, Steuben designers developed beautiful, fluid designs. Pieces such as Gazelle Bowl, designed by Sidney Waugh incorporated Art Deco
and modernist themes into glass.
The themes during this period included "balustrade" designs for water goblets and candlesticks; footed bowls and serving pieces. Decorative forms included wildlife pieces included owls, peguins and other types of birds in smooth stylistic forms. Some pieces, such as the Rams Head Candy Dish, playfully included clean lines crowned by an ornate design (a rams head, complete with a ruff) on the lid as an homage to its classic earlier pieces.
The company also entered into the field of larger show and presentation pieces celebrating various scenes (such as it's cut away design featuring an Eskimo ice fisherman above the ice, and the fish below, or the Cathedral Window design) and elements that incorporated etchings. In some cases sterling silver or gold plating were used on metal finish elements such as the golden "fly" atop the nose of a rainbow trout. Each piece is signed simply with Steuben on the underside of the object.
Toward the 1990s, the company also began production of small objects - "hand coolers" - in various animal shapes.
Items from this period were also noted for their careful, and elegant, packaging. Before boxing, each Steuben piece was placed in a silver-gray flannel bag (stitched with the Steuben name), and then placed in a presentation box. Wine glasses and water goblets each also received the flannel bag, before being boxed in set storage boxes.
Collector appeal of items from this era
(1983), was designed by Jan Johansson at Orrefors, not by Steuben.
The glass bowl in the Merchant Ivory film, The Golden Bowl
(2000), was designed by Eric Hilton at Steuben Glass.
President Bartlett broke a Steuben glass pitcher in an episode of The West Wing.
Sterling Archer broke some Steuben glassware in episode ten, season one of Archer
Art glass
Definitions of art glass can be as complex and contentious as definitions of what constitutes "art" and will inevitably include many refinements and exceptions...
manufacturer, founded in the summer of 1903 by Fredrick C. Carder
Frederick Carder
Frederick Carder was an American artist and glassmaker. He was born in Staffordshire, England and attended Stourbridge School of Art and the Dudley Mechanic Institute, he later worked in Wordsley. In 1960, Alfred University honored Carder with an honorary doctorate degree.Frederick Carder married...
and Thomas G. Hawkes in Corning, New York
Corning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
, which is in Steuben County, from which the company name was derived. Hawkes was the owner of the largest cut glass firm then operating in Corning. Carder was an Englishman (born 18 September 1863) who had many years' experience designing glass for Stevens and Williams in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Hawkes purchased the glass blanks for his cutting shop from many sources and eventually wanted to start a factory to make the blanks himself. Hawkes convinced Carder to come to Corning and manage such a factory. Carder, who had been passed over for promotion at Stevens and Williams, consented to do so.
In July 2008, Steuben was sold by Corning Incorporated for an undisclosed price to the Schottenstein Stores Corp.
Schottenstein Stores Corp.
Schottenstein Stores Corp., based in Columbus, Ohio, is a holding company for various ventures of the Schottenstein family. Jerome Schottenstein and Jay Schottenstein are two of the primary holders in the company.-Retail Ventures:...
, which also owns 51% of Retail Ventures, a holding company for DSW, Filene's Basement, and formerly Value City Department Stores; Value City Furniture, which changed its name to American Signature Furniture; 15% of American Eagle Outfitters, retail liquidator SB Capital Group, some 50 shopping centers, and 5 factories producing its shoes, furniture and crystal.
On September 15, 2011, Schottenstein announced it was shutting down Stueben's Corning factory and Manhattan store, ending the company's 108-year history.
The Carder Period (1903-1932)
Steuben Glass Works started operation in October 1903. Carder produced blanks for Hawkes and also began producing cut glass himself. Carder's great love was colored glass and had been instrumental in the reintroduction of colored glass while at Stevens and Williams. When Steuben's success at producing blanks for Hawkes became assured, Carder began to experiment with colored glass and continued experiments that were started in England. He soon perfected Gold Aurene which was similar to iridescent art glass that was being produced by TiffanyTiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
and others. Gold Aurene was followed by a wide range of colored art glass that eventually was produced in more than 7,000 shapes and 140 colors.
Steuben Glass Works continued to produce glass of all sorts until World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. At that time war time restrictions made it impossible for Steuben to acquire the materials needed to continue manufacture. The company was subsequently sold to Corning Glass Works and became the Steuben Division. Carder continued as Division manager without any real change in the company's operation except that he now had reporting responsibilities to Corning Glass Works' management. Corning's management tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to limit the articles that Steuben made to only the most popular. Production continued until about 1932.
In 1932 there was a major change in Steuben management. The nationwide depression had limited the sale of Steuben and there was also a lessening of public interest in colored glass. In February 1932, John MacKay was appointed to Carder's position and Carder became Art Director, Corning Glass Works. Steuben then produced primarily colorless art glass whose production continues to this day.
Steuben still produced colored art glass mostly to fill special orders; a few new colors were added after Carder lost control of the company. The last known sale for colored art glass by Steuben was in 1943.
The Houghton Period (1933-2008)
Corning Glass Works appointed Arthur Houghton, Jr.Houghton family
The Houghton Family is a prominent New England and Upstate New York business family. Members of the family are founders of Corning Glass Works.- Family members and decendents:Their family includes:...
as President in 1933, and under his leadership Steuben changed artistic direction toward more modern forms. Using a newly formulated clear glass developed by Corning (referred to as 10M) which had a very high refraction index, Steuben designers developed beautiful, fluid designs. Pieces such as Gazelle Bowl, designed by Sidney Waugh incorporated Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
and modernist themes into glass.
The themes during this period included "balustrade" designs for water goblets and candlesticks; footed bowls and serving pieces. Decorative forms included wildlife pieces included owls, peguins and other types of birds in smooth stylistic forms. Some pieces, such as the Rams Head Candy Dish, playfully included clean lines crowned by an ornate design (a rams head, complete with a ruff) on the lid as an homage to its classic earlier pieces.
The company also entered into the field of larger show and presentation pieces celebrating various scenes (such as it's cut away design featuring an Eskimo ice fisherman above the ice, and the fish below, or the Cathedral Window design) and elements that incorporated etchings. In some cases sterling silver or gold plating were used on metal finish elements such as the golden "fly" atop the nose of a rainbow trout. Each piece is signed simply with Steuben on the underside of the object.
Toward the 1990s, the company also began production of small objects - "hand coolers" - in various animal shapes.
Items from this period were also noted for their careful, and elegant, packaging. Before boxing, each Steuben piece was placed in a silver-gray flannel bag (stitched with the Steuben name), and then placed in a presentation box. Wine glasses and water goblets each also received the flannel bag, before being boxed in set storage boxes.
Collector appeal of items from this era
Steuben Designers
Many highly-respected glass designers have worked for Steuben Glass, including:- Kiki Smith
- Peter S. Aldridge
- Lloyd Atkins
- Inka Benton
- James Carpenter
- Robert Cassetti
- Neil Cohen
- Dan Dailey
- David P. Dowler
- John Dreve
- Eric G. Hilton
- James Houston
- Beth Lipman
- Dante Marioni
- Ted Muehling
- Donald Pollard
- Taf Lebel Schaefer
- Paul Schulze
- George Thompson
- Sidney Waugh
- Bernard X. Wolff
- Rush Dougherty
Notable appearances
The glass egg featured in the film, Risky BusinessRisky Business
Risky Business is a 1983 American teen comedy-drama film written by Paul Brickman in his directorial debut. It stars Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. The hit film launched Cruise to stardom.-Plot:...
(1983), was designed by Jan Johansson at Orrefors, not by Steuben.
The glass bowl in the Merchant Ivory film, The Golden Bowl
The Golden Bowl
The Golden Bowl is a 1904 novel by Henry James. Set in England, this complex, intense study of marriage and adultery completes what some critics have called the "major phase" of James' career...
(2000), was designed by Eric Hilton at Steuben Glass.
President Bartlett broke a Steuben glass pitcher in an episode of The West Wing.
Sterling Archer broke some Steuben glassware in episode ten, season one of Archer
Archer (TV series)
Archer is an American animated television series created by Adam Reed for the FX network. A preview of the series aired on September 17, 2009. The first season premiered on January 14, 2010. The show carries a TV-MA-LSV rating....
See also
- Schottenstein Stores Corp.Schottenstein Stores Corp.Schottenstein Stores Corp., based in Columbus, Ohio, is a holding company for various ventures of the Schottenstein family. Jerome Schottenstein and Jay Schottenstein are two of the primary holders in the company.-Retail Ventures:...
- Carnival glass was also manufactured by CorningCarnival glassCarnival glass is moulded or pressed glass, always with a pattern and always with a shiny, metallic, 'iridescent' surface shimmer.The keys to its appeal were that it looked superficially like the very much finer and very much more expensive blown iridescent glass by Tiffany, Loetz and others and...
- Pressed glass was also manufactured by CorningPressed glassPressed glass is a form of glass made using a plunger to press molten glass into a mold. It was first patented by American inventor John P. Bakewell in 1825 to make knobs for furniture....
- Frederick CarderFrederick CarderFrederick Carder was an American artist and glassmaker. He was born in Staffordshire, England and attended Stourbridge School of Art and the Dudley Mechanic Institute, he later worked in Wordsley. In 1960, Alfred University honored Carder with an honorary doctorate degree.Frederick Carder married...
- Corning Incorporated (Corning Glass Works)
- The City of Corning, New YorkCorning (city), New YorkCorning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...