Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York

Architectural Glass Is New Development

Corning Glass Works Gives Attention to New Type of Glassware. Frederick Carder, Noted

Artificer of Art Glassware, Directs Artistic Designs For new Glass For

Building Purposes.

A NEW term, pregnant with revolutionary changes in the building and lighting industries, has been brought into existence at the Steuben Division of the Corning Glass Works, says the "Corning Leader," of Corning, N. Y. After evolving some of the most artistic glassware made in the 20th century Frederick Carder, art director of the concern, has turned his attention for the time being from objects d'art for use in interior decorating to the actual building itself and has produced architectural glassware. The "Corning Leader" continues:

"This achievement brings with it a host of possibilities, making it safe to predict that architectural glassware will revolutionize present day building ideas and that an entirely new epoch in architectural development will be presented to the world.

"To those who have regretted the lack of truly American architecture, this innovation will be especially welcome. For - because of the characteristics of this new building medium which can be crystal clear or beautifully colored; opaque or translucent or transparent; an [sic] and dlast [sic] last of all, can be blown or cast in any form or shape desired - entirely different effects can be obtained that from the less malleable building materials with which man is familiar.

"To give this product the tensile strength and ability to withstand all sorts of weather conditions, the same Pyrex glassware from which insulators are made, is used in its composition.

"Despite the novelty of this innovation, there is nothing of the bizarre about it; no attempts are being made to build glass houses or to produce futuristic monstrosities. Far from it.

"Instead just the opposite is true. This new building material will owe its success to the fact that it will become a necessary supplement to modern architecture because it not only blends with the spirit of the present day, but it greatly augments the beauty of the entire design.

"One of the great desires in modern building is for more light. Architectural glassware brings the answer to this demand in a variety of ways, all of which are artistic. It may be used inside or outside of the building. Where it is outside it is particularly effective in that is can be lighted from hidden sources at night and the building given a beautiful decorative value unobtainable in any other way.

"For example, pilasters may be made of cast glass, which when lighted at night produce a brilliant effect. While in the daytime, much of the artistry so vividly revealed by the interior light sources at night, may be observed, at the same time the glassware is rich and may be of unusual decorative importance because of its texture, color and design.

"Architectural glassware is not the idle dream of an artist. It is a reality.

"It has already been launched upon the marts of trade - and that most auspiciously. Architectural glassware designed by Frederick Carder and executed by local glassmen under his direction, now graces the Empire State building, probably the most talked of edifice erected in the United States during the past year.

"And architectural glassware has been launched literally as well as figuratively in the two ships, U. S. S. Morro Castle and U. S. S. Oriente of the Ward Line, which were built recently by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Not to be outdone by the East, the Northwest is also using architectural glassware in a building recently erected in Seattle, Wash.

"In the Empire State building, the architectural glassware forms a coping around the top of the walls of interior rooms. Light from sources at the base of the coping is reflected outward and downward through the glass by metal reflectors at the back of the coping. This method of lighting displays the ceiling to the best advantage; abolishes the necessity for ruining the ceiling decorations with unsightly chandeliers; and gives an even light throughout the room which precludes heavy shadows and darkened corners besides becoming an important factor in the decorative scheme.

"Mr. Carder explained graphically how the new method of lighting could be applied to homes. 'Light,' he began, 'comes through the windows in the daytime and you arrange your furniture and pictures and other decorations accordingly. Then in the evening your windows become black and you turn on lights in entirely different portions of the rooms. The result is that portions of the room which received ample light in the daytime are frequently thrown into shadow at night or are insufficiently lighted.

"'Architectural glassware could be placed across the top and down the upper half of the entire length of the windows. Lighted at night and properly reflected, this device would not only continue to light the room in a manner similar to that used in the daytime but it will prove to be of importance in its own right as a decorative motif of decided value. Certainly it would be much more artistic than the lights hanging from the ceiling or the spots of light sprouting here and there on the wall.'

"At present the cost of the manufacture of this glassware makes it almost prohibitive. As soon as business conditions improve, it is planned to manufacture this on a large scale in about six stock designs of varying colors and with several combination possibilities so that it will be available to the man of moderate means.

"There is no more or not as much danger of monotonous standardization in this lighting plan as there is in the use of wood or brick for building homes. The almost unlimited variations in the realm of color alone will enable each householder to produce originality in his own use of architectural glassware.

"He may use crystal glass and change the color from time to time by using colored light bulbs or by using white or colored bulbs and a pane of colored glass between the light source and the art glass.

"With all the criticism there has been in the past concerning the electrification of mock candles and old-time kerosene lamps and even the little brown jug, all of which were thrown out of proportion by the difference in size, candle-power and necessary location of the electric light source, it seems safe to predict that this, the first successful adaptation of a design for something made in response to the plea for a lighting device that was strictly for electricity and not a remade kerosene or gas lamp, will succeed. And when it does succeed it will revolutionize American architecture. It will mean an entirely new system of after dark lighting; this will influence many other changes in room structure; and it will not be surprising if shapes and sizes of windows themselves will change, making differences in the exterior appearance of homes."