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The hardest part for the individual
collector today is to keep track of so many
studio glass houses and to be able to figure
out what is their collectible value going
forward. Lotton Studio Glass, for example,
produced beautiful, expensive glass, but will
their values hold up in tomorrow’s market?
The gold luster Steven Lundberg
Tsunami or Volcano vase (shown) proved
to be an excellent find. The shape and
form convey the energy and power of
nature. It’s impressive and a highly
desirable piece now in my collection.
The best guide to glass collecting is
your sense and knowledge of good design.

Steven Lundberg studio art
glass “Volcano” or “Tsunami” Glass Treasures
vase, gold doré finish with Another recent find was two pieces of
blue and red highlights
art glass from Argentina signed Querandi. Children’s play table set made by Federal glass around 1904,
The name is from the aborigines of the Wabash or Tulip & Honeycomb pattern
Santa Fe province in Argentina. It was founded as the Bohemia Glass patterns (1870s-1890s)
Argentina by Otto and Hubertus Ullmann who emigrated to Argentina and the later pieces had
and produced Bohemia style art glass there from 1957 to 1976. They more floral cuttings
developed some unique glass melts (1910-1920s).
from South American raw material and What is often
minerals for the production of massive referred to as art glass
and overlay colored glasses. The heavy, from Steuben, Tiffany,
large, sandblasted emerald green vase Durand, and Quezel are
(shown) has a spectacular color harder to find at sales at
I haven’t seen anywhere else. The sea
urchin paperweight combines a black affordable prices. The
and green glass that’s just fascinating. iridescent glazes used
Both are very contemporary and make a make them more easily
strong design statement. recognizable and people
Lest we forget about the wonderful Quezel art glass gold doré shades from about 1920. know they’re special.
glass made here, the Hobbs Wheeling Every once in a while, a
rose-red apple paperweight I recently piece does show up as a
found (circa 1875, shown) is a rarity real treasure find. I’ve seen a fair amount of valuable European art glass
indeed. The only other example I have (frequently unmarked) at estate sales. This is an area you should explore
been able to identify is in the Corning Mid-Century Modern Querandi if you enjoy the treasure hunt.
Museum of Glass collection. This sculptural emerald green glass vase You also need to realize that many other companies made art glass.
example has a small sliver chip on the from Argentina.Massive, thick Verlys is often overlooked and produced high-quality decorative pieces.
stem. Still, it’s a treasure. I should sandblasted sculptured walls Pilgrim Glass, which started in 1949 in West Virginia, started
mention that with older glass that producing “American Super Cameo” glass in 1987 under the design
is scarce or rare, slight damage auspices of Kelsey Murphy and Robert Bomkamp. Their designs are
doesn’t really impact the valuation highly sought after today. The covered vase shown was completed in
that much. Often you just 2001, the year the factory closed.
won’t find another piece that’s The one area of glass collecting that’s probably been hit the worst is
perfect at any price. Serious depression-era glass. This is mostly machine-made glass with little or no
collectors are well aware of this hand-working involved in the making of it. This glass was produced in
fact. So, if you see something you large volume and often was mediocre in quality. However, it is still
know is very hard to find, grab it collectible and the unusual or low-volume serving and decorative pieces
while you can. are worthy of a treasure hunt.
Early American Pattern Glass Good hunting!
(EAPG) is also showing up more
frequently. It was made mostly
during the last quarter of the
Hobbs Bruckunier Glass, Wheeling, 19th century, including up to
W. Virginia rose red apple paperweight, about the time of WWI. Glass
very hard to find, slight sliver chip on stem
companies made miniatures of
glass serving pieces for children to play with. This child’s table set was
called the “Wabash” (Tulip & Honeycomb – shown) by Federal Glass
in 1904. It’s in perfect shape and over a century old. There are well over
a thousand different EAPG patterns that were made in a variety of col-
ors, although crystal was the primary color.
Cut glass lead crystal was often found in wealthier homes during this
time period. It was a symbol of wealth, more expensive and typically,
much heavier than EAPG. Today, you’ll find it quite frequently at
estate sales. It’s not collected as much now, but those pieces that are Early Flint Glass creamer from Carved cameo covered ginger jar
unblemished with intricate, delicate cuttings still command some Gillinder Glass in the Cincinnati or made by noted Pilgrim glass artist,
strong values. It’s a distinct collecting area referred to as ABCG for Honeycomb pattern made about 1865 Kelsey Murphy, the year the
American Brilliant Cut Glass. The earlier glass usually featured geometric factory closed in 2001
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