Fenton glass collectors gather in Vienna for society’s 36th convention
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VIENNA -- About 150 collectors gathered in Vienna over the weekend to celebrate the artistry and history of Fenton glass during the National Fenton Glass Society's 36th annual convention.
The convention, held Saturday through Monday at the Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center, included educational seminars, glass displays, auctions and opportunities for collectors to have unidentified pieces examined by experts. The event also welcomed 21 first-time attendees, according to society President Lorianne Puskarich.
"Younger people are coming, and I would love to see younger people," Puskarich said. "You can't go on without some youth."
The National Fenton Glass Society was incorporated in 1990 as a nonprofit collectors club. Although it is not affiliated with the Fenton Art Glass Co., the organization works to preserve knowledge about glass produced by the former Williamstown company.
"We are dedicated to keeping Fenton education alive, so people continue to understand what is Fenton, what's not Fenton, was it made for the factory, was it made for the current gift shop," Puskarich said.
The society owns many molds that previously belonged to Fenton. Mosser Glass in Cambridge, Ohio, uses those molds to produce new pieces for the organization, which are then decorated by former Fenton designers and artists as well as independent artists.
Puskarich said that relationship allows the society to continue offering glass made from authentic Fenton molds even though the original factory is no longer operating.
Saturday's activities began with a members-only glass sale featuring about 30 items. Attendees also participated in an educational seminar and viewed 17 display tables containing pieces from members' private collections.
George and Nancy Fenton and longtime Fenton employee Dave Fetty examined the displays and discussed notable pieces, their history and the employees who helped create them.
"So many of them have gone on to a better place, and it's good to keep their memories alive," Puskarich said.
The convention also included a "Glass ID" session in which a panel examined pieces that members could not identify. Panelists Max and Anne Blackmore, two collectors from Indiana, provided information when they could confidently determine the manufacturer, style or history of an item.
Sunday's program included a presentation by collector Joyce Colella about special-order pieces she commissioned from Fenton. Puskarich said the company sometimes offered a limited number of available pieces that could be decorated with a customer's personal pattern, creating small and sometimes difficult-to-find collections.
Members also held the society's annual meeting, reviewed its finances and offered suggestions for future conventions. A consignment auction followed, with a portion of the proceeds going to the society. Attendees ended the day with a meal and ride aboard the Valley Gem sternwheeler.
Monday's seminars included a live demonstration by four former Fenton designers, who painted one-of-a-kind pieces to be sold during the convention's final auction. Members were able to ask questions and watch the artists work.
Another presentation, "Fenton Rarities Through the Decades," featured two examples from each decade of the company's history. Some were limited-production pieces, while others were "whimsies" -- pieces altered by glassworkers into forms different from their original designs.
Puskarich said collectors also sometimes encounter what is informally known as "lunchbox glass," unusual pieces that may have left the factory with employees. Because those items were not part of standard production, collectors may never encounter another example.
Monday afternoon, participants could make their own blown-glass ornaments at Gabbard's Cullet. The $75 cost was donated to the society's building fund. Puskarich said the organization hopes to move from its current location in Marietta's floodplain and possibly return to Williamstown.
The convention concluded with a banquet and an auction of about 40 one-of-a-kind pieces, including those painted during Monday's demonstration.
The society's purpose is to encourage the study and enjoyment of handmade glass, particularly glass produced by Fenton in Williamstown. More information is available at www.nfgs.org.