fossilfly
07-04-2005, 06:39 PM
I visited the Dorflinger Glass Museum (http://www.dorflinger.org/museum/index.htm) in PA this weekend, and at first wasn’t sure what to expect, but hey has a terrific museum dedicated to the Dorflinger cut glass. This weekend (7/4) they had an exhibit specifically for Presidential Glass, detailing the glasses that have been given to the sitting presidents since the 1860’s. All were wonderfully executed, especially the smallest aperitif glasses that were ground with miniature presidential seals. Although it is not Murano Glass, it is cut lead crystal, made in many different imaginative items, ranging from extravagant punch bowls, prisms, and among the more unusual items, a baseball bat (!) and a walking stick, all completely made of cut crystal glass. The museum also offers a glimpse of the past and what it may have been like working during the turn of the century in a glass factory, by recently restoring a workers living quarters. The factory town, at its largest, once had over 100 homes. The homes were originally built to accomodate 7 workers from France, who emigrated to PA to teach and oversee the Dorflinger glass factory. The first house was constructed 1866 and all 100 similar homes were completed by 1875.
Some of the molds used to form the glass are still in the museum, as well as reprints of catalogs that were once available, a boon for collectors. Well worth the look if you are in the area of Honesdale, PA.
Charlie
Some of the molds used to form the glass are still in the museum, as well as reprints of catalogs that were once available, a boon for collectors. Well worth the look if you are in the area of Honesdale, PA.
Charlie