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Glass Canes

on Parade

With permission from Corning Museum of Glass from a blog post written
by Nancy Magrath, Library Collections Management team member.
Other references include canequest.com and peachridgeglass.com

lassworkers have a long tradition of making whimsies – four hours straight. During that “Turn” the shop had to produce a
fanciful objects to show off their creativity, skill, and humor. “Move” which equaled a certain number of items. The number of
GThese were personal items made during work breaks and at items for a “Move” was derived through negotiations between the
the end of long, hot days at the factory in the late 1800s and early union and the company. Workers working together enabled a shop
1900s. to produce a “Move” in a “Turn,” thus preventing any work on
The variety of items seems endless. They made glass chains, sock personal creations other than at lunchtime or at the “End-of-Day.”
darners, rolling pins, paperweights, animals, witch balls, pipes, banks, Even though the glass workers had unions, they were not able to
hats, bellows bottles, and whatever struck their fancy. In England, acquire many benefits because the owners would stop production
these objects were called “friggers,” but in the United States, the term and close before giving in to union demands. This happened at
was considered too vulgar, so the term “whimsy” was born. Sandwich Glass Works in 1888 when the factory was closed amid
Even though whimsies were made at the end of the disputes with a newly formed glassmakers’ union.
day, it did not mean they were made from inferior
glass. On the contrary, the glass used was what was The Canes
leftover from production throughout the day and was A special cane is on display in the Glass in America gallery at the
typically of high quality. Because of the quality of the glass, glass Corning Museum of Glass was made in 1900 by glass worker Robert
canes could manifest the artistic ability of a particular glassmaker Wainwright. This red, white, and blue blown cane was made at
– especially those who wanted to make more creative glass forms. Corning Glass Works and Wainwright gave it to his sister. It is just
The many whimsies of aqua color were one example of many colorful, thoughtful gifts
probably products of a window glass or bottle these canes became.
factory. Bottle glass was usually aqua due to Glass canes had superstitious and practical uses
the natural iron in the sand, which discolored as well. They were conspicuously hung above
the glass. Window glass may have been mantels and doorways, as well as in pubs in
chemically treated to produce a somewhat England. Glassworkers believed the canes kept evil
clearer glass. Seldom was green, amber, cobalt spirits away and treasured the time to create them.
blue, or ruby red available to the workers of One major problem the workers faced when
these bottle and window glass factories. The they made a cane, was preventing someone else
more colorful whimsey items may have from taking it. The item had to be cooled in the
originated in larger glass works that had many lehr overnight, and whoever was first to get to
pots and possibly several colors available at work the next morning had the opportunity to
one time. grab the whimsey if he was so inclined. Some
workers just expected their whimsies to disappear
The Makers and were surprised when it was still there for them
Peachridge Glass notes that glass workers to have and do with as they wished.
had a difficult life, with the heat, the smoky,
dusty, air, and the pressure to complete a Making Canes
“Move” (number of products expected within Canes were made in two basic forms: hollow-
a set time) to make the maximum wage. The Picture of Louis J. Loetz, Toledo, Ohio, blown and solid-worked canes. The blown canes
opportunity to make a useful item for home 1898, photograph by Milton Zink, are sometimes called batons and were decorated
or just an attractive item for pleasure was one collection Carl Fauster. This photograph of with ribbons of color, mirrored or colored inside,
of the few benefits that had the owner’s consent. Libbey Glass worker Louis J. Loetz was and sometimes filled with beverages, candies, or
Glass workers did not have time to amuse taken in 1898 at the Labor Day parade. sand. Solid canes could be twisted, ribbed, or
themselves with their creations during According to the Toledo Blade, “The cased. Many more solid canes were made than
working hours. Pay scales were equated to the Libbey Glass Works band was resplendent, hollowed canes. Fancier hollow canes were made
volume of the product or the number of a the glass workers followed the band and with an interior coating that was accomplished by
made a splendid showing. Each man
particular item made – basing their pay on wore a red hat, blue shirt, and white one of several methods. Some were lined in gold or
piecework. At some glass houses, there were pantaloons. They carried canes made of silver, and because the moisture from the air
terms like “Turn” which meant you worked a glass with the national colors blown in.” deteriorates the coating, it was always important to
certain length of time, which may have been Photo courtesy of www.peachridgeglass.com. keep the holes plugged.

Left: Cane, Redwood Glass Company, Redwood, NY, 1830-1850, gift of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Griffin. 64.4.11. Photo courtesy of the Rakow Research Library, Corning Museum of
Glass, Corning, NY www.cmog.org Right: Cane, Robert Wainwright, Corning Inc., United States, about 1900, bequest of Mrs. William H. Rice. Photo courtesy of the Rakow Research
Library, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY www.cmog.org
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