Page 32 - JOA_April20_ONLINE

The Fostoria Glass Company

Staying Flexible with Solid Glass by Mary Sue Lyon, director,
by Mary Sue Lyon, director,
Fostoria Glass Society of America
Fostoria Glass Society of America

he Fostoria Glass Company began Marketing Directly
operations in Fostoria, Ohio in 1887 In 1924, Fostoria was the first glass manufacturer to advertise directly
Twhere natural gas was offered at low to the homemaker through full-page advertisements in magazines such
cost to attract new industries. That rate was very as Women’s Home Companion and House and Garden. In addition to
short-lived, and the Fostoria Glass Company advertising, retail stores carrying their lines were supplied with sales
moved to Moundsville, West Virginia in late training materials, display materials, and more to promote its brand.
1891. Fostoria existed as an independent entity until In 1925 the Fostoria Glass Company was the first to introduce a full
January, 1983 when it was sold to the Lancaster glass dinnerware line to the market which included plates, cups and
Colony Co. Production which continued operations until saucers, serving pieces, stemware, and accessories such as vases and
Pair of Fostoria February, 1986 when its operations closed, ending candlesticks. These were offered in a variety of colors and etching
candle holders nearly 99 years of glassmaking history. patterns. The “June” pattern is one of their most collected. This
innovation proved to be the mainstay of the business throughout and
A Flexible Foundation well beyond both the Depression and the
Fostoria glass, whether pressed or rationing days of WWII.
blown, was handmade and hand-finished. In the early 1930s, the Fostoria Glass
Each piece was formed by skilled craftsmen Company’s new square base stemware line
who blew the glass into the mold, further with its complimentary square “Mayfair”
shaped it by hand, and “fire-polished” it in dinnerware pattern, both designed by
a bath of flames which brought out its George Sakier, brought international
sparkle and luster. decorative arts design acclaim to the
Throughout its history, the company company. These were the first American
was known for its willingness to innovate designs to be widely copied in Europe and
and change with the marketplace. The by other U.S. glass manufacturers.
company’s earliest products were pressed
items for the table and items sent to metal- Moving into the Mid-Century
working companies who would mount From the 1940s onward, Fostoria was
silver or nickel tops or frames around the largest hand-made glass manufacturer
glass articles. 1904 Fostoria Glass Company Catalog lamps and vases in the country. The company’s emphasis
By 1897 the Fostoria Glass Company switched its emphasis to the oil became its blown and pressed stemware lines. There was literally a
lamp trade, becoming one of the leading manufacturers in the country stemware pattern for everyone’s taste; pressed for daytime, blown for the
offering lamps from utilitarian to opal ware, “Fancy Decorated,” lamps. formal dinner.
By the late 1950s, a more casual lifestyle in combination with cheaper,
The 20th Century blown imported stemware was taking its toll on business. As a result, the
By the early 1900s, the Fostoria Glass Company added fine quality company shifted gears yet again to concentrate on decorative glassware
blown stemware to its line of products, mainly serving “upper crust” products. It introduced the Heirloom line, each piece unique from hand
hotels and restaurants. As these establishments turned to machine-made finishing, and in a new palette of opaque pastel colors.
glassware, the Company turned its attention to the home market for its The 1960s and 1970s designs included Mid-Century Modern lines—
blown stemware and pressed wares. such as Seascape and Sculpture—and historical reproductions of Early
In 1915 the American pattern was introduced. It became such an American Pattern Glass items
iconic pattern for Fostoria that it and the company name are often in collaboration with the Henry
interchanged by collectors. The American pattern is “cubist-prismatic” in Ford Museum. Lead crystal
form, sturdy and practical, but made of Fostoria’s well-known quality, giftware was added in the 1970s
clear crystal glass. This was a huge pattern with over 300 items over its and imported products became
70+ year production, and remained in production until it closed down a larger part of the company’s
production in 1986. offerings. Hand-blown items
The 1920s saw an explosion of new designs, decorations, and were discontinued in 1982;
innovations by the only pressed glass items were
Fostoria Glass made through the end of
Company. It established production in 1986.
a separate design depart-
ment early in the decade The Market for Fostoria Example of the America Pattern
as the popularity of fine The values for most Fostoria glass in today’s market have fallen at least
tableware and decorative to half from a decade ago. Common items are a real bargain, being sold
items for home use for a few dollars. Hand-made, etched or cut goblets can be found for
grew. By 1926 it had as little as $3-$10 each. Scarce pieces of the American pattern still
established what became command mid-3 to 4-figure prices.The design winning “Lotus Vase” by
a 50+ year relationship George Sakier still commands prices in the hundreds, as do scare items in
with the well-known the most popular etch patterns of Versailles, June, and Navarre.
industrial designer Heirloom pieces range from $25-$200 depending on the color and
George Sakier, who item, with yellow and bittersweet the most difficult to find. The 20”
designed many of the and 24” vases tend to be scarce as well.
company’s most popular To learn more about the Fostoria Glass Company, visit the Fostoria
“June” pattern, plate etching No. 279, made in rose and successful patterns. Glass Society of America, Inc. website at fostoriaglass.org
(dawn) and azure

30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles