The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29
BEAUTY IN CARVED GLASS.
New Champagne GObIets That Cost
$3.50 a Dozen.


New York Sun.
Something new in glassware are sdecan-
ters and wine glasses ornamented after the
fashion of the Woodhall carvings. The new
importations for practical use are distinct
from the PLAQUES, vases and purely Orna-
mental pieces, inasmuch the pictured
scenes on them are wrought level with the
surface and not thrown out in relief This
permits of their being washed easily and
conveniently cared for. A set of champagne
glasses of this novel pattern costs $3.50, and
each is a work of art They are oblong-
shaped like tiny gondola, with the curved
end covered over, and the miniature scene
on the side of each is as chaste and clear
with the figures perfectly modelled, as
though portrayed ON large eXpanSe of sur
face.
'That wine glass is wrought out of
single piece of crystal" said the importer
as he held one of the gems to the light.
There is nothing finer in the way of a
deed in Frop cup There ems are Wns e GF
with rare hand painting and gliding to be
picked up here and there, but this carving,
that has the effect of being done in relief
and yet is not, is novel and unique
Viewed either through a magnifying glass
or with the naked eye the work on these
look. On one is tiny chariot with floating
pennons drawn by swans and driven by a
GOD, who handles the reins quite nonchal-
antly, considering that the car is besieged
by a quartet of nymphs and naiadS SEEM
fngly eager to get aboard. The female forms
are beautiful, and it would seem that under
certain conditions the 6rinker of champagne
out of such jewel of a glass would be apt
to fall in love with the fairies SO near his
lips. Another tiny goblet has a miniature
pinnace manned by cupids drifting through
a perfect sea of lovely faces. There are dol
pnlrs in the picture and conches and other
Neptune-like suggestions, wonderfully exc
cuted. There are grapes and garlands and
goddesses on others. No wonder that each
one Of these matchless glasses costs more
On the upright panel of a cruise or de-
canter the artist has more space to show
what he can do, but the two-inch pictures
on the champagne glasses are as bewilder-
lngly pretty in their way as any on the
larger pieces. Without gliding, without
color. without glitter or sparkle, these
carved table pieces have a beauty and dis
junction all their own, Just the shape of
them is something to ponder over. A three
stopper with subtle curve, unique in wine
bottles and resembling some flower slender
culiarly expensive ware is kept in stock,
but many decanters, flower holders and
glasses for wines and cordials have been
made to order. The carving on glass of
this kind is done in the factory in Vienna.
No one has attempted to have it done here.
A glass worker possessed of the skill and
understanding to effect it successfully
would demand too high wages after he got
on American soil to make his services worth
having. Certain of the craft are employed
as engravers, but only in rare instances in
exclusive shops. Over in the old countries,
where infinite patience and perfection in
Just one line of Workmanship are the rule
and not the exception among workingmen,
such work can be done to advantage.
Il had a talk with a Viennese workman,
with glass pieces of this kind to sell here
in New York the other day." said the i'm
porter, as he replaced $40 fingerbowl on
its delicate tray. He had a head of Lin
coin wrought in relief on an unframed
plaque and a picture Of Washington on
horseback and other nation@ subjects that
he had worked out before he came over,
because he fancied there would be sale for
them He had vase or two and cup
and such odd pieces, all cleverly DONE but
he could not sell one. Some time after he
came in again and said he was going back
home to work in the factory he had left.
The class of people able to buy these things
he could not reach here, except through the
regular importers, and, of course, they can
where living is cheaper and the wages cor
respondingly low. Are the people who do
this exquisite work artists? Well, no. In d
certain sense they are, of course, but not in
the broad sense of the term. They generally
know nothing outside of that one line of
work. They can carve in this glass we'll,
do the work almost mechanically. beautiful
and interesting as il looks when done"
AS q set-off to these cameo-carved wine
glasses are those tinted delcately at the
brim and the stand that upholds the goblet
with green amber or shell pink,
Just enough of gilt is enameled on the sur
face in dainty figures and emblems to show
off the color to advantage. The gliding
filled in level with the glass has a lighter.
more delicate effect than the ename'fng hn+
the latter is the more expensive. In these
decorated wine glasses, as IN every o,ner Ie-
amount OF gold used, and that tells in the
cost Finger bowls, berry shaped and very
small with a hint of leaf green about the
edges both of the bowl and the saucer tray,
or else just blushing into pink cost SIS and
$50 apiece. These are of exquisitely fine
glass; traced over with gliding. Some have
amber lights and a leaf tracery of gold.
Others are set off with violet borders. Very
beautiful glass dishes for salted almonds or
bonbons are shaped like leaf, set up on
gold feet. and have gold handles turned like
the twisted curlycue often seen on a
stem. Many of these fancy dishes are tinted
on the edge; others have gliding to outline
the veins and underlying leaf fibres One
very lovely almond holder is in shaded green.
with the stem that runs through the center
of the leaf of a darker tint, and handle of
curiously carved gold. The gold feet on
which the dish is mounted show through
the glass and give another touch of color
These ct ceteras cost from 81 to S14 each.
In price glassware grows more beautiful in
shape and texture each season. Natures
models seem to be more closely followed,
and the moderate priced pieces. as well as
those more costly, show striving after the
grace and airiness of effect that glass of all
substances seems best fitted to develop
I'VE seldom have. anything distinctively
new In shapes. said the importer. but the