Steuben Glass Works

Frank Blake, Corning, New York

Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1973

Frederick Carder (1863-1963), the co-founder and long-time manager of the Steuben Glass Works, introduced his iridescent Aurene glass in 1904. While visually similar to Tiffany’s gold and blue iridescent Favrile glass, Carder’s version has a different chemical composition and a more satiny feel. Furthermore, while Tiffany wanted his glassworkers to experiment in both form and technique and happily accepted creative “accidents,” Carder insisted his glassware be uniform in shape and technically flawless.

Among the first Steuben to be added to my parents’ collection were the red and green decorated Aurene vases (lots 174 and 173) presented here and which beautifully exemplify Carder’s aesthetics and manufacturing demands. Both are of the same size and shape, similarly decorated with stylized gold Aurene flowers among sinuous gold vines, all with a silky iridescent gold finish.

-Paul Doros