Date: Fri 05-Jun-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

NYSglass

Full Text:

New Exhibition Of New York State Glass

(w/3 cuts) - AWEB

ALBANY, N.Y. -- An exhibition of Nineteenth Century New York State glass

opened at the Albany Institute of History & Art and will be on view until

August 30.

The exhibition presents new research by American glass expert Jane Shadel

Spillman that will be included in the museum's upcoming catalogue, 200 Years

of Collecting (Fall 1998). "Nineteenth Century New York State Glass" is the

first in a planned series of exhibitions, "Collections on Parade," which will

showcase highlights of the Albany Institute collection featured in 200 Years

of Collecting.

The exhibition consists of a number of blown pieces from upstate New York

window and bottle glass factories from the Albany Institute's collection

including Saratoga Glass Works, Rensselaer Glass Manufactory, Redwood Glass

Works, Redford Crown Glass, Ellenville Glass Works, Woodstock Glass

Manufactory, and Lockport Glass Works. Also featured are rare mid-Nineteenth

Century mold-blown flasks made at the Albany Glass Works. "The museum's

collection of New York State blown glass is one of the best of its kind that I

have seen," said Spillman.

From the beginning of the Nineteenth Century through 1870s more than 40 glass

houses were established in New York State. Although at least half of them were

engaged in the manufacture of window glass and bottles, this exhibition

focuses mainly on the blown table and decorative wares from these factories

that were sold in local markets. Traditionally, the workers in a glass factory

were allowed to use any leftover glass in the pot at the end of their shifts

to make glassware for their own use or to sell at the company store. Although

the shapes were usually functional rather than decorative, this custom

persisted throughout the Nineteenth Century in the factories of upstate New

York and accounts for many items.

The patterned mold-blown flasks generally held liquids such as whiskey, wine,

brandy, rum or cider. During the Nineteenth Century these were the preferred

drinks over water for meals and celebrations. Flasks were individually blown

in two-part molds made of iron that had been patterned on the interior by a

die-sinker. Glass blowers usually worked in teams of three or four men. Use of

the mold ensured uniform capacity and decoration while speeding production.

The Albany Institute's collection includes two sizes of portrait flasks, the

half-pint flask with a portrait of George Washington on the obverse and the

factory name on the reverse and the pint with an identical portrait and the

factory name on the obverse and a three-masted sailing ship on the reverse.

Other decorations included portraits of Andrew Jackson, General Marquis de

Lafayette (1757-1834) and DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), the American Eagle,

Masonic symbols and commercial icons like railroad engines and sailing ships.

The exhibit is on view in the South Gallery. The Albany Institute of History &

Art is located at 125 Washington Avenue. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday,

noon to 5 pm. Museum admission is $3 for adults. Wednesdays are free to the

general public. For information, call 518/463-4478.