The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
BEAUTY In CARVED GLASS.
NEW CHAMPAGNE GoBLETs THAT
COST $3.50 a DOZEN.

COST $3.50 4 DOZEN.
Each Individual tiass n Work OF Art-Some OF
the scenes Carved on the Ginss-Oiher Costly
Table Furnishings IN the sntne w~nre-GInss-
ware Growing More Beautiful Yearly.
Something now In glassware are decantors and
wineglasscs ornamented after the fashion Of the
Woodhall carvings. The new importations for
practical use arc distinct from the plaques,
vases, and purely ornamental pieces, inasmuch
rs the pictured scenes on them are wrought
level with the surface and not thrown out in ro-
lief. This permits OF their being washed easily
and conveniently cared for. A set Of cham
pagno glasses Of this novel pattern costs $3.50.
and each 10 n work of art. They are oblong.
shaped, like n tiny %gondola, with the curved end
covered over, and the miniature scone on the
side of each is as chaste and clear. with the fig.
urcs perfectly modelled, as though portrayed on
n largo cxpanse Of surface.
THAT wine glass is wrought out Of q single
piece OF crystal" said the importer. us he held
one of these gems 10 the light. There is moth
ing finer in tho way of a glass drinking cup in
this country, or indeed in Europe. There are
wine glasses with raro hand painting and gild-
ing TO DO picked up here and there. but this
carving, that has the effect Of being done in re-
lief and yet Is not, is novel and unique"
Viewed either through a magnifying glass or
"ihii AiN I'M WV, Nhp oih oi Z '''ooN
shows new beauties the longer you look. On one
is n tiny chariot with floating pcnnons drawn
by swans and driven by n god. who handles the
reins quite nonchalantly, considering that the
car is bcsicgcd by u quartet OF nymphs and
maids seemingly eager 10 get aboard. The
fen ale forms are beautiful. and it would seem
that under certain conditions the drinker of
champagne out Of such a jewel OF a glass would
be apt to fall in love with the fairies so near his
lips. Another tiny goblet has a miniature pin
mace manned by cupids drifting through a per-
feet sea of lovely faces. There are dolphins in
the picture and conchs and other Ncptune-likc
suggestions. wonderfully executed. There arc
grapes and Garlands and goddesse5 on Others.
No wonder that each one of these matchless
glasses costs more than S62.
On the upright panel of n cruise or decunter
the artist has more space to show what he can
do, but the two-inch pictures on the champagne
glasses arc as Overwhelmingly pretty, in their way
without color. without glitter or sparkle these
carved table pieces have n beauty and distinc-
something to ponder over. A three.sided de-
canter narrows up from base to stopper with
scmbling some flower. slender and graceful.
Only a few pieces of this peculiarly expensive
flower h Rol dePs and g Glasses for vines and cordials
have been made to order. The carving on glass
Of this kind is done in the factory in Vienna.
No one has m to have 1t done here A
glass worker possessed of the skill and under.
standing to effect it successfully would demand
too high wages after he got on American soil to
make his services worth while 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 working
II had a talk with n Niennese workman, with
glass pieces, of this kind to sell. here in New
York the other day" said tho importer, as he
replaced n $40 finger bowl on its delicate tray.
"He had II head of Lincoln wrought in relief on
an unframed plaque and Il picture of Washington
on horseback. and other national subjects that he
had worked out before he came over. because he
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 LETT. The class OF people able
to buy these things he could not reach here.
eXcept through the regular Importers. and. OF
course. they can buy to better advantage in tho
countries whore living is. chenner and the wages
corrcspondingly low. Arc the people who do
this exquisite work ~nrtistSi Well, no. In II
certain sense they are. OF course, hut not in the
broad sense Of the term; They generally know
can carve in this glass well, but that is their
one and only idea. They do the work almost
mechanically. beautiful and interesting as it
looks when done"
Asa set-off to these cameo-carved wine glasses
the stand that upholds tho goblet with green or
amber or shcl, pink, Just enough of gilt, Is
e,nhlcms to show Off tho color TO advantage.
The gliding filled in level with the glass has
lighter, more trllclte erect tlan nc pna1n"IllnR,
but the latter is tho more expensive. In these
decorated wine glasses. ms in every other de-
partInGnt Of ornamental work. il is the amount
OF gold used. and that tells in the cost. Finger
bowls. berry shaped and very small, with n hint
of leaf green about the edges both of
the bowl and the saucer trav. or else
Just blushing into pink. cost 500 and $50
apiece. These are Of eXquisitely fine glass,
traced over with gliding. Some have am
Der lights and n leaf trncery of gold. Othersa are
set off with violet borders. Very beautiful
glass dishes for saltcd almonds or bonbons are
shaped like n leaf. set mp on gold feet, and have
gold handles turned like the twisted %curlycue so
dishes are tinted on the edge; others have gild-
ing TO outline the veins and underlying leaf
iibrcs. One very lovely almond holder Is in
shaded green, with the m hat runs through
the centre of the leaf of II darker tint, and han
die OF c~uriOusly carved gold. The gold feet on
glass and give another touch OF color. These
e]tcetcras cost from 81 TO Sl4 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 ms those more costly.
show n striving after the grace and airiness of
effect that glass of all substances seems best
fitted to develop.
We seldom have ANYTHING distinctively new
In shapes said the importer. d" hut the old,
standing shapes are being improved on all tho
time. being turned out with more grace and
delicacy. and new combinations in decoration
are constantly being introduced. A few years
ago II was not thought possible that methods
employed in the ornamentation of vases and
cabinet pieces could he made practical enough
for adjoining wine glasses and decanters."
FACTS ABOUT LAKE SUPERIOR.