American Steuben Glass Footed Compotes - A Pair

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Clarity and Form: Timeless Footed Compotes of the Mid-20th Century

This striking Pair of Glass Footed Compotes is a superb … Read more Clarity and Form: Timeless Footed Compotes of the Mid-20th Century

This striking Pair of Glass Footed Compotes is a superb example of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, likely dating to the later/mid 20th Century. While the design utilizes a simple, unadorned structure, its clean lines and generous proportions lend it a distinctly contemporary feel.

Each compote features a deep, wide bowl with a broad, flat rim, dramatically balanced atop a graceful knop or globular stem and a simple circular foot. The glass is clear and brilliant, possessing a subtle cast that the viewer has described as a "lovely steel-blue color"—a coloration sometimes achieved by the inherent tint of high-quality soda-lime or lead-free crystal, or a very light dye.

The design emphasizes the elegance of pure form and functionality, making these bowls perfectly suited for displaying fruit, serving desserts, or acting as minimalist centerpieces in a modern interior.

Dimensions: 7 1/2 inches high x 14 inches diameter (19.05 cm high x 35.56 cm diameter).

Historical Context:

The style of these compotes aligns perfectly with the Mid-Century Modern (MCM) movement (c. 1945–1975), which favored organic shapes, functional design, and minimal ornamentation. Following the ornate styles of the Victorian era, designers in the post-war period celebrated simplicity and clarity.

American glass manufacturers like Fostoria, Tiffin, and Viking Glass produced many lines of footed glassware and compotes in the 1950s and 1960s, often in colored glass or the finest clear crystal, with an emphasis on graceful, sculpted forms rather than cut patterns. The impressive scale and balanced design of this pair attest to the high-quality craftsmanship of American glass during the era, proving that a timeless aesthetic can be achieved through mastery of material and minimalist design principles.

References:

Schiffer, Nancy N. Glassware, Mid-Century. Schiffer Publishing, 1996. (General reference for the forms and aesthetics of American and European Mid-Century Modern glass.)

Frieze, Jennifer, and Robert Frieze. Mid-Century Modern Glass. (Context for the shift in design philosophy from cut crystal to unadorned, clear, and colored glassware in the 1950s and 1960s.)

Lagerberg, Ted, and Jean Lagerberg. Viking Glass: From Viking to New Martinsville. (Reference for the simple, heavy, and colored glass forms produced by major American mid-century manufacturers like Viking Glass, which influenced the general aesthetic.)

(Ref: NY8135-irrr) See less