Glass of the Maharajahs

The Corning Museum of Glass has an exhibit that will run until November 30, 2013. The exhibit is called the Glass of the Maharajahs. The pictures of the glass items are breathtaking! http://www.cmog.org/collection/exhibitions/maharajahs

European manufacturers made one of kind glass items for wealthy Indians in the mid to late 19th century. There are glass chairs and tables. Wow.

Tiffin Glass Museum

 We don't think we can say it better than they can:

"The Tiffin Glass Museum honors the heritage established by the men and women of Tiffin’s “Glass House.” Through preservation and education, the Museum safeguards glassware made by the artisans from the factory’s nearly hundred-year history. Museum preservation work includes acquiring memorabilia and historical documents from the factory’s beginning in 1889 until its closing in 1984."

 http://www.tiffinglass.org/

The Glass of C.F. Monroe: Wave Crest, Nakara, Kelva

The C.F. Monroe Glass Company was in business from 1880 to 1916. They were a decorating company. They purchased undecorated blanks from France and  American glass companies such as Mt. Washington. The glass they decorated on was opal glass, a creamy white color. They called their decorated ware
Wave Crest, Kelva and Nakara.

The glass may or may not be signed. The metal fittings on the glass may or may not be marked. If the metal is marked it would be with the letters CFM Co.They also decorated cut glass blanks.

To learn more about this glass that is iconic in the world of glass visit the Wave Crest Collector's Club at  http://wavecrestcollectorsclub.org They have a yearly convention. This year it will be in November in Santa Barbara, California.

A Glass Shot Tower

What is a shot tower? A shot tower is built of brick or stone. It can be 75 to 160 feet tall. Lead is heated until it is molten.  It is dropped through a copper sieve high in the tower. The molten lead forms tiny spherical balls as it falls. The balls fall into a water filled basin. After they cool they are checked for roundness. If they are out of round they are re-melted. The balls are sorted by size. And there we have shot for use in firearms.

The link we have is for a miniature shot tower made of glass. It sold at auction in 2008. We were discussing the old days with dealer friends about the most unusual item we have ever owned and sold. They mentioned that they had bought and sold a  glass shot tower many years ago. We could only find one link for the a glass shot tower on line and here it is. http://www.soldusa.com/rainworx/detail.asp?id=13969&bigpic=0#img

Interested in Canadian Glass?

Glasfax is dedicated to the study of glass manufactured and used in Canada from before Confederation right up to the present day.  Glasfax was founded in 1967 during Canada's Centenial celebrations.  There are three chapters – District 3 with members in the Greater Toronto Area; District 4 with a membership based in southwestern Ontario; and District X for members in all other locations. Their members are interested in the history of glass in all its phases from raw materials to the finished article. This is a very nice site on Canadian glass with lots of links and info. http://www.glasfax.ca

Glass Knife Rests

When looking for something to blog about today I thought of knife rests. There use to be quite a few collectors for them. I did not find any collector associations for knife rests while surfing the net. I did find an article on the Antique Trader web page: http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/antiques-americana/museums/american_brilliant_cut_glass_knife_rests_at_historical_glass_museum

Does anyone know of any collector groups for knife rests?

Fenton Glass

The Fenton Glass Company was in business for 106 years. While the company is not making tradition glass items they are still in business: http://www.fentonartglass.com/

If you are interested in learning about Fenton Glass here are two web pages to check out: http://www.fentonglasscollectors.com/  and http://www.fentonfan.com/ and for information on the future of Fenton Glass: http://www.fentonartglass.com/newsletter/2013/USGlassClub.asp

What is an epergne?

Definition of epergne: a tiered centerpiece consisting of a frame metal or glass with dishes, vases of candle holders. The link below has photos and pictures of epergnes. http://myoldhistorichouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/victorian-epergne-pronounced-e-purn.html

Glass Canes

This website is about canes of all types. They have an article on glass canes. http://www.canequest.com/glass-canes.aspWe had been told years ago that glass canes were carried in parades by the glass workers. It was symbol of their profession. We have owned and sold several glass canes over the years. We have also repaired them by mending broken sections. Or making them shorter.

Quezal Glass

If by chance you had thought Tiffany and Steuben were the only two companies that made art glass check out this link http://www.journalofantiques.com/Apr03/featureapr03.htm . Quezal Glass was right up there with them in quality and design. This is a great article on the company.

Duncan Miller Glass

This group was started in 1975 to celebrate and educate on Duncan Miller glass. Duncan Miller was a Pittsburg, Pennslyvania glass house that manufactured many styles and colors of glass from 1865 to 1955. 
Their yearly sale is in November. http://duncanmiller.net/

Glass Whimsies

Glass House Whimsies were non-production glass items made by the glass workers on their own time. The glass items were given as gifts or to demonstrate their ability to work with glass. We have a few cut glass whimsies ourselves. Whimsies are fun to collect. Check out this link: http://whimsey.org/

Heisey Museum & Heisey Collectors of America

 The museum has been owned and operated by the Heisey Collectors of America, Inc since 1974.
 Heisey Collectors of America CA is a non-profit tax-exempt corporation dedicated to the education, preservation and encouragement of collecting the fine handmade glassware produced by A.H. Heisey and Company in Newark, Ohio. Twenty dedicated collectors founded the club in Newark on October 15, 1971. Today there are more than 1,700 members all over the United States http://heiseymuseum.org/

They also have a newsletter and a yearly convention!

Fostoria Glass Society of America

The Fostoria Glass Society of America celebrates the Fostoria Glass Company of  Fostoria,  Ohio started in 1887 and closed in 1986. Many brides received Fostoria glass for their weddings. The longest made pattern was American. Among other patterns made were Navarre, June, Versailles, and Trojan. They have  a museum at their location in West Virginia. Once a year they have a convention.
 http://www.fostoriaglass.org/

Cambridge Nudes

The Cambridge Glass Company produced these wonderful glasses from the 1930's to the 1950's. The company called them Statuesque Nudes. This is a link to an article from the National Cambridge Collectors web site: http://www.cambridgeglass.org/articles/0508/08crystalball415b.php

July 4, 1776

Words from the Declaration of Independence:

...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security....

 The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for freedom.

Stars & Stripes

Tomorrow is July 4th, American Independence Day. While looking on line for glass items reflecting our country's heritage and history we found a link to a Wheeling Glass Stars and Stripes pitcher set made circa 1890. http://www.prices4antiques.com/Wheeling-Glass-Hobbs-Brockunier-Co-Opalescent-Cranberry-Water-Set-Stars-Stripes-D9734099.htm. Many  glasses houses manufactured glass in patriotic themes. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/eapg-clear-creamer-stars-stripes-by-mckee-glass

Morgantown Glass

Innovative. Stylish. Creative. These words come to mind when we think of Morgantown Glass. The company started in 1889 in Morgantown, West Virginia. From the late 1920's through the 1960's they produced quality glass items. For more info see the links below. Also we recommend the book Morgantown Glass: From Depression Glass Through the 1960's by Jeffrey B. Snyder.

http://www.oldmorgantown.org/
http://www.morgantownglassmuseum.com/