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.
Frederick Carder for Steuben Glass Vanity Bottle Clear Crystal with Black 1920s
By Steuben Glass
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Frederick Carder for Steuben Glass Vanity Bottle, Clear Crystal with Black Threading, circa 1920s. An elegant and highly collectible vanity bottle designed by Frederick Carder for St...
Hermès Golf Print Cigar Ashtray Change Tray Porcelain Gold
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Rare and Beautiful Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: golf ball, clubs and tees Made in France Vintage item Made of porcelain, edges and notches hand painted with fine gold No leat...
Lemaire Enamel Opera Glasses
Located in New York, NY
Lemaire Enamel Opera Glasses made in Paris circa 1930's with hand enamel painted 18th Century figures with a cupid on handle. Extremely beautifully painted...
Gucci x Bianchi 2011 White City Bike
By Gucci
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ride in style or elevate your interior space with this amazing Gucci x Bianchi bike! This 2011 collaboration unveiled the exclusive Bianchi by Gucci bi...
Lalique Swan Head Down Pure Crystal Sculpture
By Lalique
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a Lalique pure crystal satin finish coveted Swan Head Down sculpture. First designed in 1943 by Rene Lalique this ethereal swan is depicte...
$2,974
H 1.46 in W 6.38 in L 7.8 in
Hermès German shepherd Print Cigar Ashtray Change Tray Porcelain Gold
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Exceptional and Rare Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: an adorable german shepherd on a terrace with vegetation in the background Drawings are stunning ! Made in France Vintage ite...
$1,189
H 1.38 in W 6.19 in L 7.49 in
Hermès Porcelain Ashtray Change Tray Horse Seahorse Mythology Porcelain Gold
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Beautiful and Rare Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: Seahorse This drawing inspired by Greek mythology represents the sea horse with a horse's head, 2 front legs, and a tail inspired...
Hermès Set of 4 Porcelain Plates Bonheurs a Paris
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Exceptional and Rare Authentic Set of 4 Hermès Plates From the "Bonheurs à Paris" collection (happiness in Paris) Plates number 3, 4, 5 and 6 Places: ...
Hermès Set of 2 Placemats Formula One Paddock Club GP F1 Car Race
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Rare Authentic Set of 2 Hermès Placemats Made by Hermès for the Formula 1 Paddock Club This is a private club that we can find at Formula 1 Grand Pri...
Hermès Padlock Charm Keyring Horse Head
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Rare and Lovely Authentic Hermès Padlock Can be used as a charm or keyring thanks to its ring In shape of a horse's head Made of brushed metal on the faces, unbrushed metal on the...
$2,974
H 1.5 in W 5.71 in L 7.76 in
Hermès Cigar Ashtray Change Tray Le Fleuve Sacre Gange Ganga India
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Extremely Rare and Absoultely Gorgeous Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: "Le Fleuve Sacré" (The Sacred River) Designed by Catherine Baschet in 2005 Theme: India, Gange, Ganga Mata, ...
Hermès Cigar Ashtray Change Tray Porcelain Oranges Lemons
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Beautiful and Rare Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: Citrus fruits and foliage, oranges and lemons Made in France Made of porcelain, edges and notches hand painted with platinum (s...
Hermès Baby Elephant Cigar Ashtray Change Tray Porcelain Gold
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Adorable Authentic Hermès Ashtray Print: baby elephant Made in France Made of porcelain, edges and notches hand painted with fine yellow gold Colorways: raspberry pink, gold, bla...
Steuben Olive Dish by John Dreves in Clear Crystal, Signed
By Steuben Glass
Located in Kingston, NY
Steuben clear lead crystal Olive dish designed by John Dreves. Produced by Steuben Glass Works and first introduced at the 1939 World's Fair, this iconic bowl features the fluid scr...