Varieties of Wine Decanters
From the ornate to the plain, there are different kinds of wine decanters. Some are made by the recognized art glass makers, while others can be plain and artless. Many are collectibles in their own right. And, some of the older varieties contain lead crystal which we know today can pose a health hazard. The article that follows was written by a student of the wine decanter discipline, and offers some pointers to keep in mind.
Different Types Of Wine Decanter
Adding a wine decanter to your wine bar area will add depth and class to wine drinking. Wine decanters not only make red wines taste better, but they offer a very attractive vessel from which to serve wine to your visitors.
A decanter is a type of vessel that is used for holding decantation results. Decantation is the process where liquid from another vessel is poured into the decanter in order to separate a small volume of liquid that contains sediment from a larger volume of relatively clear liquid. In the process of decantation, the sediment is left in the original vessel and the clear liquid is transferred to the decanter.
Wine is a type of liquid that often must be decanted in order to remove excess sediment. All red wines, particularly young red wines, benefit from the oxygenation that takes place during the decantation process. An optimal decanting process involves trickling the wine down the walls of a decanter, which imparts fuller flavor while removing the unpleasant edge of the wine.
Most wine decanters are ornate and tall containers that are made to be very attractive vessels from which to serve wine. Wine decanters may come with a stoppered lid. Additionally, some wine decanters come with a built in rod that aids the decanting process.
Most wine decanters have a very upright and tall shape and are made of glass so that the process of decanting may be seen. One of the most popular materials to make glass wine decanters from is lead crystal. It should be noted, however, that lead crystal is no longer recommended for use in decanters, as the lead tends to seep into the liquid contained within the vessel.
Lead crystal is created by adding lead oxide to molten glass. This lead glass is manufactured because it increases the index of refraction over that of normal glass. This means that lead crystal has a much more 'sparkly' appearance than regular glass.
Though many people still use lead crystal decanters, I long ago gave mine away and have since switched to regular glass decanters, to avoid lead poisoning. If you think about it, most people have the same liquid sitting against the lead crystal for years at a time -plenty of time to absorb more than a healthy amount of lead, in my opinion.
Popular makers of lead crystal decanters are Waterford Crystal, Steuben Crystal, Baccarat Crystal and Steuben Crystal. These manufacturers of fine lead crystal decanters and other items have perfected the art of stunning lead crystal designs. If you opt to go with a traditional lead crystal decanter for your wine or liquor, I'd go with one of the tried and tested lead crystal manufacturers.
April Rounsville used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of "must haves" such as plastic
barware for your bar.
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Tiffany Glass, Marvelous Collectibles
When you think of Tiffany art glass, you might think of words like "beautiful", "exquisite" and "expensive." However, did you know there was a time when Tiffany glass was thrown away. By WWII, many people had thrown away their Tiffany glassware.
Between 1878 and 1933, Louis Comfort Tiffany was so popular that at least one of his vases or glass lampshades appeared in every American home that could afford them. However, tastes change, and what was once a beautiful status symbol became junk. It's ironic that what we now consider marvelous collectibles, and what taught Americans they could by great native-produced art objects, was briefly so out of fashion that it was thrown away.
The high point of Tiffany's career probably occurred in 1883, when he was asked by President Chester Arthur to decorate the White House itself. Tiffany had bronze ceilings, new curtains and carpets, mosaic fireplaces and a hall screen of opalescent glass put in.
Tiffany Lamps
While Tiffany glass is no longer used to decorate the White House, we do understand its value again. One of the most classic and recognizable types of Tiffany glass is his series of lamps. Usually made with naturalistic bronze bases and floral and insect-patterned stained glass, they've caught the imaginations of many. They're highly collectible, and depending on the lamp and its age, can bring a high price, too.
For instance, a single tulip table lamp, with a green and blue shade decorated in red and purple tulips, sold for nearly fifty thousand dollars. A red peony floor lamp sold for sixty-three thousand dollars, and a bronze poppy lamp for twenty thousand. The current market is extremely good for Tiffany lamps, but there are some important criteria for figuring out how much to pay for one, or what price to ask.
The condition of the lamp is important, since each shade is made out of several thousand pieces of glass. The rarity of the lamp and the pattern it's made in will also affect price, and some lamps have better coloration than others. That's an artifact of how they were made - the process of hand making Tiffany glass necessarily produces some pieces that are better.
Tiffany lamp shades have a delightful, warm look when turned on, so most collectors also use their Tiffany glass lamps. They have strong potential to be a good investment, too. Not just rich people can buy Tiffany lamps. For an investment of a few thousand dollars, you could own a basic Tiffany lamp that will only appreciate in value.
Watch Out for Fakes
The important thing to be aware of when collecting Tiffany glass is that there are many reproductions and fakes on the market. Learn all the hallmarks of real Tiffany glass and know that the lamp or other art glass piece you're buying the the real deal. Otherwise, your investment might turn out to be wasted. The good news is that Tiffany produced a lot of glass, so there are still plenty of pieces out there, waiting for the right collector.
Tags: Art Glass, glass, louis comfort tiffany, tiffany art glass, tiffany glass, tiffany glasswareRelated posts
Steuben Glass, Truly American Works of Art
Steuben Glass Works was founded in 1903 in Corning, New York, and was to become one of the most famous American art glass manufacturers, imitated by many others. Experimentation at Steuben produced a large number of interesting colored art glasses, starting with Gold Aurene, a type of iridescent glass similar to that produced by the famous Tiffany glass works.
Gold Aurene was only the first of these magnificent colored glasses, however. It was followed quickly by a large number of other colors and types. Eventually the Steuben Glass Works' range was produced in more than seven thousand different shapes and a hundred and forty colors. From 1903 until WWI, this manufacturer produced amazing glass types.
You can find a large selection of Steuben Glass works of art - Just visit our Steuben Glass Store.
Restrictions during wartime meant that it became hard to acquire materials needed for glass manufacture, resulting in the company being sold to Corning Glass Works, where it became the Steuben Division. However, the company's operation didn't change much, except that Corning attempted to limit articles made by the company only to the most popular lines. However, this was mostly unsuccessful, and production continued as usual until the early 1930s.
Phase Out of Colored Glass
A major management change occurred in 1932. Because of the Great Depression, Steuben glass sales had been limited. The general public was also becoming a lot less interested in colored glass. The management change resulted in the existing Steuben lines being replaced by primarily clear art glass. These lines continue to the present. While colored glass was still being produced to fill special orders, not many new colors were added. The last known colored art glass sale by Steuben was in the early 1940s.
New Glass Formula
In addition to the removal of colored glass from the Steuben production line, the direction forms were taking changed, as well. A new formula of glass that had been developed by Corning was more transparent and had a higher refraction index than just about any other type on the market. It resulted in designs that created a new look. Modernist and Art Deco themes were incorporated into the new pieces, and the transparency and glittering beauty of the new formula were capitalized on.
In the 1950s, a change occurred in the method of making Steuben art glass. Items were no longer cut and engraved, but formed into sculptural shapes. One of a kind decorative items were produced from the 1960s onward, increasing the demand for fine Steuben glass.
One Hundred Years of Operation
Steuben is still producing art glass, and celebrated its hundredth year of operation only a few years ago. It's the premiere manufacturer of art glass in the U.S. In July of 2008, the company was sold by Corning. The buyer was the Schottenstein Stores Corporation. However, production is slated to continue in the old factories, with the same staff. All that's changing is the management. That means that Steuben glass collectors won't have any problem getting their old favorites.
Tags: Art Glass, corning glass, glass, glass manufacture, iridescent glass, steuben, steuben glass works
