Steuben Glass
Steuben Glass Works is the most illustrious name in American art glass. Its vividly colored Art Nouveau and Asian-style wares produced in the early 20th century as well as later modernist works rendered in flawlessly clear crystal are objects of striking beauty and delicacy.
The Steuben Glass Works was cofounded in 1903 in the town of Corning, New York, by Frederick Carder, an alum of celebrated British glassmaker Stevens & Williams and a self-taught English chemist and glassmaker. Carder was a restless experimenter, constantly creating new color formulas that resulted in a wide array of hues, from milky jades to his iridescent Aurene shades. A favorite Carder technique was to acid-etch decorative patterns into pieces made of glass layered in different colors. The forms of his vessels were relatively conservative. Most are based on classic Chinese pottery; many display the flowing, naturalistic lines of the Art Nouveau period.
The larger local firm Corning Glass acquired Steuben in 1918. The company’s approach to art glass changed radically in the early 1930s, when Corning chemists devised a new type of crystal known as 10M, with perfect clarity and brilliant refractive powers. Corning decided that, henceforth, all Steuben decorative objects, vases, sculptures and other wares would be made from the crystal.
Art glass was made in two formats: molded and polished abstract sculptures and figurines, or pieces for which artists used Steuben crystal as a sort of canvas. The first such artwork was sculptor Stanley Waugh’s 1935 Gazelle Bowl, a vessel etched with brawny Art Deco animal forms. In later years, Steuben would invite artists that included Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe and Isamu Noguchi to “paint” in the firm’s crystal.
Steuben glass comes in myriad forms and is available in a broad range of price points. Jewel-toned glasses and tableware from the Carder era include candlesticks marked at $300 and full dinner services for more than $10,000. Small crystal figurines bring around $1,000, while larger sculptures are priced in the neighborhood of $7,000.
Steuben glass, with its impeccable artistry and timeless grace, deserves a place in any collection.
Find antique Steuben glass and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1920s American Steuben Glass
Early 2000s French Steuben Glass
Early 2000s Steuben Glass
2010s Steuben Glass
20th Century French Steuben Glass
20th Century French Steuben Glass
1960s Mexican Steuben Glass
20th Century French Steuben Glass
1960s Steuben Glass
1950s Japanese Steuben Glass
1960s Steuben Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Steuben Glass
2010s European Steuben Glass
Steuben Glass fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
- Is Steuben glass crystal?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022It depends. Since 1903, Steuben has been famous for both its glassware and crystal. Crystal is a kind of glass with additives that make it strong and able to be used in elegantly thin designs. Crystal also refracts light, creating a striking look. Steuben is known for its exceptionally beautiful crystal formula. Shop a range of Steuben glass and crystal pieces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, most Steuben glass is roughly 30 percent lead. Transparent colorless glassware produced by the brand is usually free of stones, seeds and cords, giving it a true crystal-clear quality. You can find a collection of Steuben glass on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Most Steuben glass was marked in some way before leaving the factory. The most common mark is a fleur-de-lis with “STEUBEN” written in block letters. Other pieces may simply have the letter “S”. Find an authenticated collection of Steuben fine glass and crystal items on 1stDibs.
- Is Steuben glass always marked?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, most Steuben glass was marked before it left the factory. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of standardization of the marks so one needs to know several different diamond script maker’s marks to verify if the glass is a real Steuben. Shop a collection of authentic Steuben glass from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.