Steuben Glass produces hand-blown crystal objects. The company makes works that are beautiful in material and design. In 1903, Frederick Carder established Steuben Glass (pronounced Steu-ben’). Carder, an Englishman, started the company in Corning, New York. Steuben was the name of the county where the city of Corning is located. In 1918, Corning Glass Works bought Carder’s factory. Steuben Glass became part of the larger company. Under Carder’s leadership, it made glassware in a variety of colors and shapes.

In the early 1930s, Corning’s research scientists developed a new type of crystal glass. It was clear and brilliant, yet too soft for use as optical glass. They realized the formula would work well for making decorative art. In 1933, Steuben Glass was incorporated as a company, with Corning Glass Works as the only stockholder. Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., became president. He guided Steuben Glass Company to concentrate on the use of the new crystal glass. For exhibition pieces, Steuben craftsmen used copper wheels to cut engraved designs into the crystal.

The Stark Museum of Art’s collection of Steuben glass focuses on engraved American themes. The United States in Crystal presents a set of engraved bowls representing the fifty states. Each state bowl has a scene related to its history or culture. A central bowl represents the Union.Steuben has since duplicated many of the state bowls. The Stark Museum, however, has the only complete set of The United States in Crystal.