Steuben Glass Works is the most illustrious name in American art glass. Its vividly colored Art Nouveau and Asian-style wares produced in the early 20th century as well as later modernist works rendered in flawlessly clear crystal are objects of striking beauty and delicacy.
The Steuben Glass Works was cofounded in 1903 in the town of Corning, New York, by Frederick Carder, an alum of celebrated British glassmaker Stevens & Williams and a self-taught English chemist and glassmaker. Carder was a restless experimenter, constantly creating new color formulas that resulted in a wide array of hues, from milky jades to his iridescent Aurene shades. A favorite Carder technique was to acid-etch decorative patterns into pieces made of glass layered in different colors. The forms of his vessels were relatively conservative. Most are based on classic Chinese pottery; many display the flowing, naturalistic lines of the Art Nouveau period.
The larger local firm Corning Glass acquired Steuben in 1918. The company’s approach to art glass changed radically in the early 1930s, when Corning chemists devised a new type of crystal known as 10M, with perfect clarity and brilliant refractive powers. Corning decided that, henceforth, all Steuben decorative objects, vases, sculptures and other wares would be made from the crystal.
Art glass was made in two formats: molded and polished abstract sculptures and figurines, or pieces for which artists used Steuben crystal as a sort of canvas. The first such artwork was sculptor Stanley Waugh’s 1935 Gazelle Bowl, a vessel etched with brawny Art Deco animal forms. In later years, Steuben would invite artists that included Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe and Isamu Noguchi to “paint” in the firm’s crystal.
Steuben glass comes in myriad forms and is available in a broad range of price points. Jewel-toned glasses and tableware from the Carder era include candlesticks marked at $300 and full dinner services for more than $10,000. Small crystal figurines bring around $1,000, while larger sculptures are priced in the neighborhood of $7,000.
Steuben glass, with its impeccable artistry and timeless grace, deserves a place in any collection.
Find antique Steuben glass and other furniture on 1stDibs.
| Average Sold Price |
| $1,048 |
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| Related Creators |
Steuben Glassworks Signed Crystal "Snail" Scroll Handle Olive Bowl
By Steuben Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Steuben Glassworks signed crystal "snail" scroll handle olive bowl, circa 1960s. An iconic piece of American mid-century modern design, this clear lead crystal bowl was produced by S...
Crystal
$4,995 / set
H 4.75 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in
Early 20th Century Steuben Aurene Iridescent Art Glass Goblets - Set of Ten
By Steuben Glass
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of ten Arts & Crafts or Art Nouveau period Aurene iridescent art glass goblets By Steuben Glass USA, Early 20th Century Each measures: Large - 3.75"W x 3.75"D x 4....
Art Glass
Mid-Century Modern Steuben Glass Vase with Scroll Base
By Steuben Glass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine American Art Glass vase. By Steuben. Designed by George Thompson in 1949. Of a bell shaped body with two applied scrolls and a thick circular foot. Model no. 7964 This m...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Shallow blown glass center bowl with inverted scroll rim by Steuben, c. 1939
By Steuben Glass
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Shallow blown glass center bowl with inverted scroll rim, designed by Walter Heintz for Steuben in 1939. Signed on the under foot: Stueben American, 1939.
Glass
$3,800
H 8 in W 6.5 in D 2 in
Steuben Glass & 18K Gold “Trout & Fly” by James Houston, Introduced 1966
By Steuben Glass, James Houston
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Steuben Glass & 18K Gold “Trout & Fly” by James Houston, Introduced 1966 American, Steuben Glass Works, Corning, New York Crystal and 18k Gold • Signed • H. 8 in. × W. 6.5 in. × D. 2 in. A masterwork of American glass artistry, this signed Steuben crystal sculpture, “Trout & Fly,” was designed by James Houston and first introduced in 1966. Houston, one of Steuben’s most celebrated designers, was widely known for his wildlife studies in glass, many inspired by his time in the Canadian Arctic and his reverence for the natural world. The sculpture depicts a trout captured in a moment of suspended motion, arcing upward from stylized swirling water in pursuit of an exquisitely detailed 18k gold mayfly. The insect, mounted on a fine wire stem, hovers delicately at the fish’s open mouth, completing the narrative of predator and prey. Techniques & Materials Steuben Crystal: Hand-blown, optically pure crystal, polished to a flawless surface. Steuben’s proprietary formula, developed in the early 20th century, is distinguished by its extraordinary clarity and brilliance. Controlled Bubble Inclusions: The fish’s body is decorated with perfectly placed air bubbles, achieved through expert manipulation of molten glass. These bubbles evoke the shimmer of scales and the sparkle of water. Cold-Polished Detailing: Fin edges, mouth, and wave-like base are sharply defined through precise polishing, heightening the sense of motion. 18k Gold Mayfly: The hand-wrought gold insect is finely chased to suggest delicate wings and naturalistic form, providing a striking contrast to the crystal’s transparency. Designer: James Houston (1921–2005) Houston joined Steuben in 1952 and became one of its leading designers, bringing a lyrical naturalism to the company’s repertoire. His works—including Arctic wildlife, fish, and avian studies—are considered icons of mid-20th-century American glass design. The “Trout & Fly” exemplifies Houston’s hallmark blend of simplicity, symbolism, and technical virtuosity. Introduced in 1966 (Steuben design no. 1002-ST). This example bears the engraved Steuben signature at the base. The composition celebrates the vitality of nature and the drama of survival. The trout, emblematic of strength and perseverance, leaps toward a fleeting mayfly—an insect long associated with the fragility and transience of life. Together, they capture a timeless moment of balance in the natural cycle. Steuben crystal animal...
Gold
Steuben Verre de Soie Glass Fan Vase, Corning, New York 1925
By Steuben Glass
Located in Milan, IT
Steuben Verre de Soie Glass Fan Vase, Corning, New York, c. 1925, ruffle-edged bowl set on a clear stem and round base, unmarked
Glass
$5,500
H 26 in W 23 in D 23 in
4 Arm Arts & Crafts Bronze Chandelier w/ Faces & Steuben Glass Shades ca. 1910
By Steuben Glass
Located in Petaluma, CA
This very handsome 4 arm chandelier is of a very high quality. The 4 cast bronze faces show the extent of the commitment to detail as well as the 4 cast bronze husks over the shade ...
Bronze
Steuben Glass Art Deco Op Art Crystal Vase, Signed
By Frederick Carder, George Thompson, Steuben Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage art glass vase features rounded form with vertical optical ribs, creating dynamic reflections and accentuating the inverted rim. Heavy, substantial crystal medium juxtaposes ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $1,048 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $166-$2,848 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
