Smith Brothers Glass
Smith Brothers Glass
The father of Messrs. Alfred E. And Harry A. Smith, who constituted the firm of Smith Brothers, was a pioneer in the glass decorating business in America. He came here from England about the year 1851, at which time the art was in its infancy, under contract with the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, and he encountered many discouraging obstacles. In the first place, the taste of the people had not been educated to an appreciation of the work.
When Mr. Smith left England, the excavations at Nineveh and Pompeii had created a demand for productions similar to ancient pottery on which Grecian and Roman borders and figures were painted in black, and the demand for such goods had reached the proportions of a ''rage." The first difficulty in reproducing these articles here was encountered in the effort to obtain suitable ware to decorate.
The workmen couldn't make the glass vases. There were hardly two blanks alike and it was a good deal of trouble to match the vases into pairs. When the goods were put on the market, the dealers sent word that they were not satisfied with these wares.
Alfred Smith was in the employ of his father at this time and was the first artist in this country to put enamel colors on a cone shade. The experiment was not a success. The colors which the decorator had at his disposal were manufactured in a crude way, being simply glass ground to an impalpable powder. But the glass of which the shades were made was so easily fusible that they would not stand the ordeal of fire in the kiln.
Nearly discouraged, Mr. Smith looked about to see in what direction his art could be utilized and rendered profitable. At that time fluid lamps were in common use, and the experiment of gilding designs on the lamps and pedestals was tried. It was found that the glass would stand fairly well a "gold fire," or the temperature required to make gold unite with the glass, and the new idea was an instantaneous and brilliant success.
Everybody wanted decorated lamps and hundreds of thousands were made. Occasionally enamel colors were tried, but the glass was unsuitable. The problem was solved years later by Messrs. Smith. The blank shades were imported and Smith Brothers was the first decorating firm to order shades prepared for their purpose firm abroad. Subsequently all the decorators followed their example.
US $500.00
In addition to gilding lamps, Mr. Smith introduced a new style of apothecary's ware, which was afterwards driven from the market by the invention of the recessed labels.
After a few years the elder Smith severed his connection with the Boston and Sandwich Company and established the Boston China Decorating Works, managed by Levi Cooley, who was formerly employed by Mr. Smith at Sandwich to fire kilns.
In the Spring of 1871, Alfred E. and Harry A. Smith came to New Bedford under contract with William L. Libbey and established a decorating department at the Mt. Washington Glass Works, then operated by Libbey. The decorating department was a success from the start. After three years, Smith Brothers hired the department, bought stock, and conducted the business. The reputation of the firm of Smith Brothers became world wide, the brothers ranking first in their particular line. The graduated some of the best workman in the country, and employed some of the best artists from abroad.
The lamps, vases and shades painted by the Messrs. Smith were exquisitely beautiful and artistic. Some of the best effects were obtained on shades of white with a bisque finish. Oriental scenes were painted in the most delicate colors and were of dreamy beauty. When lighted, the effects were lovely. Conventional designs in enamel and gold, with Etruscan or burnished finish were very popular. The firm also decorated shades on special order and local landscapes were frequently utilized. Baccarat, of Paris, once sent the finest decorated shades to this country, but such work as that done by the Smith Brothers drove the foreign manufactures from the market.
Smith Brothers also engaged in glass cutting. A number of beautifully cut and engraved glasses were turned out at their factory. Their display at the 1889 exhibition was a revelation to this country and they received many awards for their wares.
