Page 24 - 2022 Glass Editorial

Engraved Glass

lass is an amazing medium, and it creators, so they can still be easily identified and collected today. One
has only become more amazing of the most popular makers was Georg Schwanhardt, who initially
Gover the centuries, as new tech- studied under glass expert Caspar Lehmann. The Schwanhardt
niques for shaping and embellishing it has workshop operated for approximately a century and employed several
been developed. One of the oldest families of Georg’s family members, among other glass artists. Mr. Schwanhardt
of techniques used in the glass world is was also famous for engraving rock crystals.
engraving. Engraved glassware is highly In the United States, the glass industry as a whole began taking off
collectible today. Let’s take a peek at how in the mid-to-late 19th century. Many popular glass producers of that
engraved glass techniques have changed over period used various methods, including glass engraving. The New
time and why engraved glass is still highly England Glass Company in Massachusetts, which at one point was the
sought after today. largest glass company on the planet, was famous for glass engraving,
etching, and embossing. New York was also home to numerous glass
What is Engraved Glass? companies at the time.
Engraved glass is glass that has a pattern Another company that produced many American engraved glass
carved into it using one of a variety of pieces was the Philadelphia Glass Works. It was famous for producing
techniques. It is similar to etched glass in its “Stiegel Type” engraved glass. Henry William Stiegel was a famous
result, but not in how it is accomplished. While glassmaker from Germany who eventually came to Philadelphia. There,
etched glass is typically produced using Mid-19th century he eventually married into the family of Jacob Huber, a popular
caustic substances, engraved glass processes Egermann engraved ironworker. All the while, Stiegel produced glass of varying types,
usually rely on special tools. Engraved glass glass beaker selling including engraved peces.
is also similar to cut glass when it comes to for $339 at RubyLane The Steuben Glass Works was also
using the tools to chip away at the glass, but engraving lightly marks the quite popular. It produced diamond
surface of the piece, whereas cut glass produces deeper marks. And point and copper wheel engraved pieces.
while cut glass often has a transparent appearance, engraved glass has a Steuben engraved glass was typically
frosted appearance more often than not. produced in the Art Deco style. It is
still popular with many collectors today.
A Brief History of the General In fact, a few Steuben engraved glass
Process of Engraving vases featuring a Pegasus image is
Engraving is a process that is hundreds selling online for anywhere from $2,800
of years old, however it has not only been to $4,750 depending upon which
applied to glass. In ancient times it was design is chosen.
frequently used to create cave art. It
has also long been used as a process for Beaker with a soldier Engraved Glass Today
embellishing pottery. Engraving was also and civilian shaking hands, In modern times, both antique and
commonly used to create sheet music for Bohemian glass, new engraved glass pieces are popular.
musicians and has long been used in the later 19th century. So are various techniques for engraving
jewelry-making industry. glass. However, there have been many
changes in the techniques that are preferred. For example, the copper
Glass Engraving Techniques wheel technique is still used today, but motorized wheels are far more
There are several types of glass engraving popular than foot pedals. Modern methods like sandblasting and laser
techniques. One of the oldest is called point engraving have also led to fewer modern practitioners of the older
engraving. Point engraving requires the engraving methods.
practitioner to carefully engrave a pattern
using a tool with a very sharp tip. Tungsten Collecting Antique Engraved Glass Pieces
Father’s Gift to Maria carbide and diamond tips are the most If you want to collect
1860, New England Glass antique engraved glass, learn
Company, East Cambridge, common today. Historically, methods as much as you can about
Massachusetts, about varied by geographic location and availability the pieces that interest you.
1860-1870. of materials. A similar technique is called
stippling. In the former, the practitioner That way, you can verify
draws lines. The latter requires even more patience since the engraver their authenticity, ages, and
must create small dots that eventually form a pattern. conditions, as well as their
Another type of glass engraving is copper wheel engraving. It is general values on today’s
performed by applying an abrasive substance to a copper wheel and market. For example, Steuben
spinning the wheel to mark the glass. Typically, some type of paraffin used different types of methods
wax and oil or a similar mixture was also used to keep the wheels to mark pieces over the years,
turning smoothly. Early copper wheels were operated using foot pedals. including paper labels and
etched markings. You can use
Producers of Antique Engraved Glass those to date the pieces.
Venetian engraved glass was quite popular during the Renaissance Certain patterns and designs
period. Eventually, glass engraving was also popularized in other countries were also only produced Two vintage Cambridge Glass “Roselyn”
as the trend traveled. The craze of glass engraving was particularly during specific time periods, 5.25” high claret wine glasses
appealing to the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries. Eventually, it which are well documents. selling online for $39.95
became popular in Central Europe and Germany, as well. Once you determine the
Nuremberg, Germany was a particular hotbed for glass engraving authenticity of a piece, you also need to make note of its condition.
activity. Many Nuremberg pieces were also carefully marked by their Due to the fragile nature of glass, antique pieces often have chips or
scratches that may detract from their value.
22 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles