Steuben Glass was a luxury glass made in Corning, New York for more than a century. It was founded in 1903 and became a division of of Corning Glass Works in 1918. The early focus of Steuben was on colored art glass. In the 1930s the focus shifted to making pure lead crystal.
Corning sold Steuben to Schottenstein Stores Corp. in 2008. The business had become unprofitable, and Schottenstein was not able to turn it around. They closed the Steuben business in 2011, and Corning bought back the Steuben brand name.
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Interesting interpretation. What amazing craftsmen here.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the article. I visited the Corning Glass Center in the 1960's.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I, too, visited Corning -- I remember that hot smell of the furnaces...some of the glass is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIs that the same place that made corning ware in the 50s and 60s and maybe still do? I used to love their casseroles. I think I still have one or two of them. You know, the white with the little blue flowers?
ReplyDeleteNancy
I tried glassblowing once but it soon became evident that I'd never make a craftsman.
ReplyDeleteThe skill of glassblowers is amazing.
Oh, WOW! This is a wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteThis has to be the best museum I have ever been to! I so thoroughly enjoy my time time that I spent 3 days wandering around and never once bored. Of course, it is no longer free :)
ReplyDeleteTo me Corning meant Pyrex...until I read this and my ignorance disappeared.
ReplyDeleteThe art of glass blowing amazes me.
ReplyDeleteAnother trade that is dying and now being completed by machines.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see glass-blowers at work - what a wonderful art form!
ReplyDeleteI'm always drawn to beautiful art glass.
ReplyDeleteI notice Corning Ware when I visit the glassware department in select malls around my area. They're beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI remember visitng some old glass making places in New York and Ohio as a child. Now it is a rare art practiced by few independents. There were craftsman back then and your post here shows the intricacies.
ReplyDeleteA good post! Glass-work is both an art and a craft that require years of skilled practice, not unlike a musical instrument. Whole communities of artisans were created around these centers like Corning's and now it's gone. Even the artists in China will soon be replaced by computer guided machines.
ReplyDeleteSteuben is absolutely beautiful art. I will never forget wandering through the Steuben showroom in Manhattan on 5th Ave. many times. I did not realize Steuben was part of Corning Glass. Corning bought back the name you say. Does anyone know if they are still producing.
ReplyDeleteOh I am happy you went for this. I've always found this so amazing and beautiful. An excellent post.
ReplyDeleteWay cool. Thank you so much for the interesting history lesson.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Lovely cards.
ReplyDeleteLiked watching glass blowers in action, something I saw on a couple of occasions; first time was at Expo'67 and I still have a souvenir from that day, a small "hour glass" with pink liquid in it... which you can move from the top to bottom and vice-versa with just the heat of your hand.
:)~
HUGZ
I love watching glass being blown. All that heat, and the ductile quality of the glowing glass, which normally is so hard, brittle and transparent - fascinating.
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