2013 SGS CONVENTION And Show
The Stretch Glass Society’s 39th Convention, Show & Sale was held on July 24-26, 2013 in Marietta, Ohio. The Marietta Comfort Inn was the host hotel and the site of member and the Club’s displays. In addition, there were hundreds of pieces of vintage and contemporary stretch glass offered for sale by Stretch Glass members. On Friday night Tom Burns conducted an auction of Fenton, Stretch and other collectible glassware which drew a large crowd of dealers and collectors.
The Convention, Show & Sale got off to a fun start with a wine and cheese reception on Wednesday evening. The reception provided conventioneers with the opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new members and look carefully at the hundreds of pieces of stretch glass on display as well as the 16 tables of stretch glass which were offered for sale by Stretch Glass Society members.
Thursday morning began with the annual “stampede” of members into the display and sales room to make their selections of "For Sale" stretch glass. Many pieces of wonderful iridescent stretch glass changed hands in the first 30 minutes of buying and selling among members. Later in the day members discussed the table displays of stretch glass which they shared from their personal collections. Among the highlights were a number of pieces of Fenton’s Persian Pearl with Cobalt Edge stretch glass along with several luncheon table settings featuring various color themes, a wonderful selection of wheel-cut center handled servers, several lamps and much more. Following the banquet on Thursday evening, conventioneers and their guests were treated to a showing of a selection of stretch glass from the late Rosa and Carl Schleede’s collection, recently sold at auction.
After a delicious lunch on Friday, the Annual Business Meeting of the Stretch Glass Society was held. Members elected Anne Blackmore and re-elected Roger Christensen to the Board of Directors. Tim Cantrell was elected to serve as Vice President for two years and Cal Hackeman was elected President for 2013-2015.
Friday afternoon Dave Shetlar presented a discussion of the over 100 examples of stretch glass, both vintage and contemporary, which has patterns or designs from the molds used to produce the various pieces. The Club Display of “Stretch by Design” included many rare and unusual examples loaned for the occasion by nearly 20 members of the Stretch Glass Society.
Friday morning got off to an fun start with Dave Shetlar discussing black glass bases and helping us understand how to determine the correct black base for each of our stretch glass bowls, vases, etc. We were fortunate to be able to see the black, cobalt and white glass bases made by each of the glass companies which produced iridescent stretch glass between 1916 and 1933. Conventioneers anxiously took notes and looked forward to matching up the correct bases with their bowls, etc. when they returned home.
The annual gathering of Stretch Glass Members and visitors provided an abundance of opportunities to learn about and see iridescent stretch glass as well as buy and sell common and rare stretch glass. A great time was had by all.