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.
Set of 12 Steuben Wheel Engraved Crystal or Glass Audubon Plates by Sydney Waugh
By Steuben Glass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 12 Steuben crystal or glass plates. Designed by Sidney Waugh. With wheel engraved depictions of Audubon's birds. From a series of 21 birds after Audubon...
Crystal
$1,350Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 1.13 in W 11.38 in D 11.38 in
1970s Textured Glass Pertti Santalahti Humppila Kivi Plates, Set of 12
By Humppila, Pertti Santalahti
Located in Miami, FL
1970s textured glass Pertti Santalahti Humppila Kivi Plates, Set of 12 Offered for sale is a set of twelve (12) ice-like textured glass "Kivi" pattern dinner plates created by Fin...
Blown Glass
Charles X White Opaline Plate by Jean-Baptiste Desvignes
By Jean-Baptiste Desvignes
Located in Paris, FR
Opaline crystal plate decorated with dark blue forget-me-nots and gilded stripes, produced by Jean-Baptiste Desvignes. Desvignes was a French g...
Opaline Glass
Set of 14 Steuben Salad or Desert Plates with 12 Bowls
Located in Buchanan, MI
Set of 14 Steuben salad or desert plates with 12 bowls in original marshal fields fitted box with custom dust covers. Plates measure 8.5" and bowls meas...
Crystal
12 Steuben Art Deco Jade and Alabaster Water Goblets
By Steuben Glass
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, Steuben, Corning New York. This set of 12 plus a spare (total 13) of Art Deco goblets are sublime examples of early colored Steuben gl...
Glass
Set of Twelve Audubon Birds of America Plates
By Adams
Located in New York, NY
Set of twelve Audubon Birds of America plates. Twelve John James Audubon Birds of America plates with floral border featuring: wild turkey, long-billed curlew, canvas back duck, Florida jay, Baltimore oriole, American flamingo, pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, snowy egret, bird of Washington (eagle), cedar waxwing and Canada goose. All in very good condition with no chips or cracks; some crazing to several plates. Ceramic plates in the Birds of America pattern produced by Adams England...
Ceramic, Pottery
Set of 12 Tiffany French Limoges Dessert or Salad Plates
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of 12 Tiffany French Limoges Dessert or Salad Plates, France, circa 1970s. Very graphic design! As seen in the first photo, there are 5 each of the ...
Porcelain
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.13 in Dm 10.63 in
Lorenz Hutschenreuter, Monarch Set of 12 Dinner Plates and 12 Salad Plates
By Lorenz Hutschenreuther
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Lorenz Hutschenreuter, Monarch set of 12 dinner plates and 12 salad plates. They depicts a white center with a cobalt blue edge enhanced with...
Ceramic
Set of Eight Audubon Bird Dinner Plates
By Alfred Meakin
Located in New York, NY
Set of eight Audubon birds of America plates in cream with raised floral border centering on eight different birds. Alfred Meakin, Some crazing commensurate with age. England, circa ...
Creamware
Set of 12 Tirschenreuth Porcelain Service Plates
By Tirschenreuth Bavaria
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautiful set of 12 porcelain 10.75 inch service plates with elaborate gold borders. The floral centers with lacy style borders each with slightly different bouquets and sprigs of ...
Porcelain
Zodiaco Dinner Set of 12 Plates
By Laboratorio Paravicini
Located in Milan, IT
A full dinner set from the Zodiac collection, inspired by the blue sky and its stars that light it up at night. It consists of 12 plates each one with ...
Ceramic
Set of 12 14.5" under plates made by C. J. Vander circa 2000
By C.J. Vander
Located in London, London
Made in London circa 2000 by C. J. Vander, this handsome set of 12 Silver Plate Underplates, feature a decorative border and a plain centre. ...
Sterling Silver
$278Sale Price|30% Off
H 2.13 in Dm 7.38 in
Steuben Glass Flare Bowl, Hand-Blown Crystal, Mid-Century Modern
By Steuben Glass
Located in Raleigh, US
Steuben Hand-Blown Glass Footed ‘Flare’ Bowl This exquisite Steuben bowl is a stunning example of midcentury modern design, combining elegance with timeless craftsmanship. Its minim...
Crystal
Four Antique Steuben Art Glass Plates C1930
By Steuben Glass
Located in Big Flats, NY
Four Antique Steuben Art Glass Plates C1930 No signatures Measures- .75''H x 8.5''W x 8.5''D; Clear Plate is 1.5''D
Art Glass
Sold
H 1.19 in Dm 9.85 in
Set of 12 "Constellation" Engraved Crystal Plates by Don Wier for Steuben Glass
By Steuben Glass
Located in Brussels, BE
A rare complete set of 12 "Constellation" finely engraved crystal plates by Don Wier for Steuben Glass. Steuben glass, 1950-1979.
Glass
Dessert Plates by Steuben
By Steuben Glass
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A group of spare and well executed crystal dessert plates.
Crystal
Set of 12 Signed Steuben Clear Glass Dinner Plates
By Steuben Glass
Located in Astoria, NY
A set of 12 clear glass Steuben dinner plates signed on the rim. Good vintage condition with age appropriate wear. Some have minor scratches. One has small chip.
Glass