Wine Glass in the Stourbridge Pattern, about 1933. Libbey Glass Manufacturing Company.
The Stourbridge pattern, 1933
Designing It
The “custom built” 1933 Stourbridge wine glass is elegantly proportioned, with an architectural design and jewel-tone accents. It was intended to evoke English glassmaking traditions of the 18th century “with a suggestion of the modern.”
See the wine glass in the American Glass study case in the Glass Pavilion Study Gallery.
Making It
The Stourbridge pattern and other 1933 Libbey Glass “New Era” designs were handcrafted rather than machine-made. Because of their labor-intensive production, they were very expensive to make—some “New Era” patterns cost the astounding price of $2,500 per dozen! Such luxury was out of the reach of many during the Great Depression.
The Designer
Page from Libbey Crystal: The New Era in Glass catalogue, 1933.
In 1931 Libbey Glass hired Arthur Douglas Nash (1885–1940), formerly of the Tiffany firm, to help the company regain prominence in the luxury tablewares market. His line of beautiful handcrafted stemware with their array of superior glassmaking techniques proved too expensive, leading to financial disaster for Libbey. The company was acquired by Owens-Illinois in 1935.