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Glass makes a great art medium

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Contributed by: les stewart on 4/14/2007

Have you ever thought about how nature influences our daily lives? History has taught us that man's earliest attempt to capture nature were documented cave drawings of native animals and plants. Just think of all the process changes that have been made since the first caveman started drawing on walls some 40,000 years ago. We have progressed from cave walls, hieroglyphics, carved wooden items, metal sculptures, beautiful carbon pencil drawings to water color paintings, oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pottery and even glass.

Glass has proved one of the finest mediums for capturing animal and plant life. Early glass making was very crude and the quality of the glass was really poor. To view examples of early glass, visit the Kirkland museum of "Fine and Decorative Art" in Denver, which is currently exhibiting two early examples of Phoenician glass that were made approximately 3,000 years ago. The Kirkland museum has one of the finest collections of modern glass on display and open to the public. Many of the modern glass and pottery pieces in the Kirkland collection were designed to be used with floral arrangements such as console sets (flower bowl and matching set of candlesticks) and vases.

Glass can be heated and made into numerous shapes, colors, textures and sizes. Molten glass can be poured into intricate molds or be hand blown into gorgeous goblets, perfume bottles and vases. Images of flowers and animals were used to make beautiful dinnerware sets and accent pieces for home decorating. Glass companies spent a great deal of money making the metal molds used to pour the molten glass in. Many of these molds had intricate floral designs on them. The finished products had names given to them such as: Avocado, Cherry Blossom, Dogwood, Doric and Pansy, Iris and Herringbone, Thistle and Strawberry. Some of the greatest designs in American made glassware were made during the great depression of 1900's.

Another method of decorating glass was to etch the glass with a floral design. Most of the major glass companies produced etched glassware with either animals or some type of floral design on it. Etched items are truly elegant and are very high quality glass. Some of the etched designs would be encrusted with silver, gold or platinum. Pattern names include Orchid, Daffodil, Rosepoint to name a few.

Glass was also used to make items that would actually hold flowers. The most recognizable piece today would be the vase. Companies actually made flower frogs where flowers were inserted into holes in the frog. The frog would then sit in a console bowl or fit into the top of the vase. Flower frogs come in many different sizes, colors and styles. Large vases and console set are really great for decorating. Gold encrusted pieces really show off the design and become the focal point on a table or fireplace mantel.

The Wildlife Experience museum in Parker opened a new exhibit on April 7th featuring works from Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists and glassware from the Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society (RMDGS) and the Pikes Peak Depression Glass Club (PPDGC) members. The glassware exhibit will feature many rare and beautiful examples of how glass companies used animals and flowers in their designs. Many of the items will be molded, etched and plain. The exhibit will run from April 7th to July 8th.

Be sure to visit The Kirkland and Wildlife Experience museums to view gorgeous examples of glass and how they might be used in your home or office.

Kirkland Museum, 1311 Pearl St., Denver, Co. 80203 (303) 832-8576

The Wildlife Experience, 10035 South Peoria, Parker, Co. 80134 (720) 488-3300

In addition to the museums there will be approximately 14 table displays featuring "Holiday" themes at the April 28th and 29th annual "Array of Color" Depression glass and pottery exhibit and sale, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society. The table displays will provide an excellent opportunity to see how depression/elegant glass can be used in holiday settings and with today's newer china patterns.

In addition to the Holiday displays, a major display of Cambridge Keyhole items will be on exhibit to. Many rare and beautiful examples will be on display.

The show is again in the beautiful Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock. To get to the show from Interstate 25 take the Plum Creek Parkway exit 181 & turn east. Plum Creek is the most southern exit from Interstate 25 in Castle Rock. Show signs will be posted to help you find the event center location after leaving the interstate. The show hours for the public are Saturday April 28th (10-5) & Sunday April 29th (11-4). This year's show has approximately 34 of the most outstanding dealers from across the country, as in previous years. The show will be of exceptional interest to Depression Era glassware, dinnerware, kitchen, and pottery collectors in the area.

Please visit the National Cambridge Collectors website (www.cambridgeglass.com) to learn more about Cambridge Keyholes and other Cambridge glass patterns. To find out more about collecting depression glass and pottery please visit the following local area glass/pottery club websites: Denver: Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society (www.rmdgs.com) and Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Depression Glass Club (www.ppdgc.com).

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les stewart

Colorado Springs , CO

les stewart has posted 161 stories and 0 comments since joining on 3/21/2007. les stewart 's average story rating is 4.67.

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