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Below: American art deco fixture with a
central glass bowl surrounded by 5 glass slip However, the market had
shades. All original glass; rewired. Selling for changed. The forces of
$2,950 at appletonlighting.com modernism behind the Art
Deco/Art Moderne market
were still in force, now
accelerated by improvements in
on the home fronts. The glass world technology and design.
exploded, too. Everyone was ready for Modern glass of this
something new and it arrived in the period was defined by
style of Art Deco, or Art Moderne, its organic shape,
as the French would call it. The Art sculptural appearance, its
Nouveau style had played out, color, and the way it reacted to
morphing into the Arts and Crafts natural light. Its Vintage Mid-Century Modern
style of the early 1900s usage was less important, Blenko amber glass table lamps
and then into the Art whether for the table or with original finial.
Deco Movement. Art for decorative use.
Steuben Glass Works (American, Deco design represented The shapes and forms of Scandinavian
founded 1903 – closed 2008) modernism turned into Modernist glass fit this concept perfectly and
Frederick Carder (English, 1863 fashion. Its name is Scandinavian Modernism soared in its influence with
– 1963) Art Deco glass vase derived from the 1925 many companies imitating them or using their
currently on display at Paris International Exhibition concepts to launch their own designs.
The Biggs Museum of Art of Modern Decorative and
through February 20, 2023 This was really the beginning of what we now call
Industrial Arts. Mid-Century Glass. Glass from named companies such as
Art Deco was influenced by the geomet- Orrefors, Kosta, Stromberg, and Riihimaki are sought after by 1950s
ric forms of Cubism and the Vienna Secession, the bright colors of and 1960s home furnishings enthusiasts.
Fauvism, and the exotic styles of the Orient. It featured rare and
expensive materials and exquisite craftsmanship. It perfectly fits in Mid-Century Modern – Europe & Murano
with the “Roaring ‘20s.” It was the first truly international art move-
ment. In glass, René Lalique is perhaps the most famous practitioner. Glass made in Bohemia and Murano pre-date the Mid-Century era
Marius Sabino is another famous glass name from this period. by a long shot. Art glass from Loetz easily competes with Tiffany and
This was also the time when “Modernism” spread throughout the French makers. Bohemian art glass from the Victorian era took
the glass world. Scandinavian modernist glass took hold in the market share from the American glass companies and made life
Nordic countries. Orrefors became famous for its “Graal” difficult for some of them. The same is true with respect to
glass. Nearly every country had a standout company Murano glass.
producing exquisite glass designs. Here, in It was after the war, however, that glass from
Smerica, you had the works of Frederick Bohemia and Murano really made inroads into
Carder and Steuben Glass plus modernist the mainstream American marketplace. Troops
glass from Tiffin, Paden City, Cambridge, brought back souvenirs. Tourists loved Italian
Heisey, Imperial, Fenton, and more. glass. Venetian and Murano glass was colorful,
Even though the depression dulled innovative, and very popular with collectors.
the exuberance of the 1920s, Art Deco Glass made by Venini and Dino Martens both
design flourished during the 1930s. The command premium prices today.
ubiquitous depression glass companies made
affordable glass for every table and style of decor. It’s All About Country
Much of this glass is now disappearing. It will Perhaps the two best-known American
become the future of collecting treasures. companies that made glass that complemented the
Mid-Century Modern decor were Blenko and Pilgrim
Post-War – Mid-Century Modern This Fenton is made from blue “carnival” glass. Both of these companies made wonderfully inno-
World War II brought the heady days of the glass and features the Panther design. The vative and colorful glass that fit into the modernist
dish stands raised on three molded claw feet
Art Deco era to an end. The glass market paused and has a rounded shape with a crimped lifestyle. The glass had brilliant colors, and organic,
and, yet again quickly got going after the war. rim. Selling at 1stdibs.com for $329. sculptural designs. It was hand blown and also mold-
blown. And, it was mostly unmarked.

Rochester brass and milk glass
electrified hurricane oil lamp. A
spherical milk glass shade hand
painted with a pink tulip flower.
The shade is held by a brass
burner that is attached to a font.
This font is decorated with a
relief of C-scrolls with small leaves
alternated with eggs. Below the
font, there is an upside-down
crown made of large scrolls of
branches of acanthus leaves that
were welded by the former owner
and it forms the base of the lamp.
On the upper border of the font,
it is inscribed “The Rochester,
An example of Brilliant Cut Glass in the Circa 1930s Paden City round, clear glass made in the U.S.A.”
form of a compote. server with a swan neck handle decorated with a
sterling silver deposit motif currently selling for
$82 at rubylane.com
20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles