by nvilla

Famous Makers from other Countries

In the May newsletter, art glass salts from England were the focus. Famous glass makers from other countries, both European and American, have also contributed open salts that are appreciated by collectors. Here is a glimpse of some of these.

The pedestal salt and small round clear one are by Baccarat. The pedestal is in a glass color Baccarat called Rose Tinte and a pattern named Swirl. The little clear glass one has a graceful wave-like application all around the edges.

The purple ink-spot and the one with amber medallions are both Moser, the best known and possibly finest of the Bohemian glassmakers. The ink-spot one has an acid mark, but the other one is easily identified as Moser by the raised medallions and the very finely done gold enamel.

Fine American glass houses with famous names have also produced salts. The group of three iridescent salts are (from the left) Quezal, Steuben verre de soie (glass of silk) and Tiffany favrille. One advantage of collecting salts is that they are more affordable than large pieces like vases, yet the glass quality is just as fine.

The two tiny orangish iridescent glass ones are by Monot Stumpf, another French maker, in their two most common shapes. Most of these are not in stands, and I’ve perched one in a stand to which it doesn’t really belong.

Two other American makers are credited with this next pair. The two peach colored ones almost look like porcelain, but the one on the left is Burmese glass, probably Mt. Washington, and the other Pairpoint peach blow. Only 100 of these latter ones were reported to have been made.

Finally in this group is probably the most expensive of my salts, a Daum Nancy, also from France. I always thought I deserved one of these, considering the name. Daum is the company, Nancy the town where these were made. There are really beautiful ones in frosted glass—maybe one day.

Contemporary Glass

The three low pedestal salts are all by Fostoria, probably made as nut cups in the 20's and 30's, although some books name them salts. The purple and green in the foreground are stretch glass, the one in the rear, Fostoria’s jade.

The two blue salts with their dreamy iridescence are both by Steven Lundberg, once the most prominent art glass blower in the United States. Steve's serious medical condition (ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease) is preventing him from creating any further work; however, Lundberg Studios remains in production in Davenport, California.

I have restrained myself from more pictures and more detail, and you other collectors know how hard that can be. My chief pleasure in collecting salts, besides mere acquisitiveness, is the inroad it has given me into the worlds of porcelain, pottery, and most of all glass.

PLEASE NOTE: These photos can be printed for your own collection files, but are not to be used for any Internet auction listings, websites, or any other commercial purposes. The photos provided for this article are from the personal collection of the author or with permission from the owner.

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GPSA’s Featured Sellers this month are wgpaul, 4evervintage, and Cranberry Manor. We encourage you to click on their seller IDs and visit their eBay auctions.

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by FanofFenton Sarah

With the 100th Anniversary of the Fenton Art Glass Company Celebration taking place this summer in Williamstown, West Virginia, I decided to take a good look at what other locations might be worth a side trip on my way to or from West Virginia. The West Virginia Museum of American Glass literally jumped to the head of the list.

Located in Huntington, West Virginia, “The West Virginia Museum of American Glass, Ltd. is a museum with a mission to share the diverse and rich heritage of glass as a product and historical object as well as telling of the lives of glass workers, their families and communities, and of the tools and machines they used in glass houses.”

The museum focuses on glass made between 1900-1940. This was a time when the production of hand made American Glass soared and pieces graced millions of tables. This museum includes all glass products…from bottles to lightning rod balls, from telegraph insulators to glass used in automobiles, from pressed to blown tableware. The museum does a fantastic job of relating the history of the places and people who made these products.

This facility is what I term a working museum; here many catalogs can be reviewed for research purposes. Additionally, "publication of research is a part of the educational mission of WVMAG" and there is a huge educational mission within this museum. The website offers merely a taste of what can be found inside the walls: a little bit of history, some beautiful examples, information regarding what publications are available for purchase and which are available for research, and a great set of links to other glass sites. Best of all they offer a quarterly publication that is included with membership to the museum. It’s a great browse and should be an even greater place to visit. I’ll let you know this fall.

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by wgpaul

On vacation this month, check back with us in August!!

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It happens every day! You anticipate receiving an item you won at auction. It arrives, and you open the box to see...pottery shards or slivers of glass!

Have you noticed how some auction photos just seem to scream “BUY ME!” while others are so fuzzy and far away you’re not sure what is being offered?

We share a few practical tips on photo taking and packing to help you get that item safely to your buyer! Our GPSA website offers a more in-depth look at valuable packing and photo tips. Please visit and have a look around!

Packing Tips

• When packing pieces with long finials or stems, use the cardboard cores from rolls of bubble wrap. Wrap the finial in tissue and then lightly with bubble wrap. Insert it into the core and stuff it snugly but not tightly with crumpled tissue. Tape the top and the bottom so it can move and then wrap in bubble again. Comes through like a dream. As an aside, watch the stores like Walgreens, CVS, Sam's and Costco after Christmas and buy tissue paper then. Just be sure not to use colored tissue when packing anything as if it gets wet it will leech the color onto the wrapped object.

Photo Tips

• Sometimes when you use a white background you get a bounce from the flash, particularly when shooting white or lighter colored objects. One of the best background fabrics is a lightweight polyester knit (almost no wrinkles). It is readily available at fabric stores or Walmart for very little expense. The best color is a pastel shade; pink or green are pretty good, lavender and blue can sometimes look grey. Above all, remember that a solid background is best particularly when shooting figured objects.

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No reserve clearance sales, less than ONE DOLLAR!

GPSA sellers are still listing clearance items. All items start at an opening bid of 99¢. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up a bargain from one of our reliable GPSA sellers! All sellers abide by the GPSA guidelines found on our home page.

Find a bargain! Deals and Steals!

To see Shazaam listings at any time, click here. Check back often — sellers add items all the time!

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We’re so happy to have you join us!!

The following eBay sellers became GPSA members in June 2005. As members of the GPSA, they have committed to upholding the standards of the Glass & Pottery Sellers’ Association.

antiquesovertexas oldelmo30

mykitchencupboard

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