American glassmaking |
The early 19th century saw the development of pressed custom glass in the United States, first made at the New England Glass Company, which was established by Deming Jarves in 1818. The process, which involved pushing molten art glass or patterned brass or cast–iron mold with a plunger, revolutionized glass manufacture. Cheaper than Cut glass, it made more styles available to more people. It proved an ideal technique for Neoclassical design, allowing easy production of symmetrical shapes for a wide range of domestic glassware. A number of glass factories were established.
The New Bremen Glass Factory in west Maryland was founded in 1787 by German immigrant Johann Friedrich Amelung. A few surviving pieces feature engraved decoration in the Gennanic style. The company Bakewell, Pears & Co. was founded in 1808 by two Englishmen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is credited with making the country's first chandelier in 1810. Pressed art glass was made here from 1825.
The Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, established in 1825 in Massachusetts by Deming Jarves, also founder of the New England Glass Company, produced sandwich art glass and flint glass of exceptional quality–America's answer to British lead–based crystal. From 1828 pressed glass formed most of the company's output.
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