Description
1920's Steuben Etched Glass compote in Selenium red. Engraved pattern on stem making it rare if not one of a kind. 8" tall x 8" wide, acid stamped Steuben on
base, no damage or detectable wear.
Steuben Glass Works
Steuben Glass is an American art glass manufacturer, founded in the summer of
1903 by Frederick 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 September 18, 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 1918, Steuben was acquired by Corning Glass Works and became the Steuben
Division.
In July 2008, Steuben was sold by Corning Incorporated for an undisclosed price
to Schottenstein Stores,[2] 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 Steuben's
Corning factory and Manhattan store, ending the company's 108-year history. Soon
after, Corning Incorporated repurchased the Steuben brand. In early 2014, The
Corning Museum of Glass announced that it would work with independent
contractors to reproduce Steuben using a new, lead-free formula and their
classic leaded crystal.
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
Tiffany 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 a lessening of public
interest in colored glass. In February 1932, John MacKay was appointed to
Carder's position. Carder became Art Director for Corning Glass Works. Steuben
then produced primarily colorless art glass.
Steuben still produced colored art glass, but mostly to fill special orders. A
few new colors were added after Carder transitioned into his new role with
Corning Glass Works, but the last known sale for colored art glass by Steuben
was in 1943
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