Select Meeting Recaps
2026, April 13
Program: Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem MA Visit.
Presented by Member Louis Lopilato
The PEM has a new, permanent glass exhibit. From the museum: "This diverse selection of contemporary glass represents the work of more than 40 of the most influential glass artists from the 20th century to today. ….this collection is remarkable for its range of forms, scale and techniques in glass. The Pforzheimers' gift significantly expands PEM's noted historic glass collection while celebrating the extraordinary aesthetic possibilities that arise from the combination of sand and fire." |
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2026, May 11
Program: Blenko Glass
Presented by Member Tracy Lowrey
Meeting at the Manchester, NH home of member Karen Petraglia
Tracy will provide a rainbow of colors and information about this popular manufacturer that has been making beautiful glass since 1893. Members are encouraged to bring examples from their collections. |
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2026, March 9
Program: Mid-20th-Century Glass Designers
Presented by Member Louis Lopilato
Meeting at the Braintree, MA home of member Louis Lopilato
Louis will share his extensive collection of pieces and related ephemera of mid-20th-century glass. Members are welcome to show their glass as well. |
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2025, November 10
Program: America Brilliant Cut Glass
Presented by Andrew Daniels
Meeting at the Braintree, MA home of member Louis Lopilato
Andrew Daniels will be exploring the fascinating world of American Brilliant Cut Glass and how to tell it apart from later cut glass. We'll look at the different types of blanks used over time, from early handblown pieces to pressed and figured glass, and how those changes reflect the evolution of the craft. He will also explain how to use black light as a tool for identification—what different colors under UV light can reveal about age, composition, and authenticity. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of how to distinguish true American Brilliant from later imitations. |
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2025, October 20
Program: Sid Hutter Studio Visit.
225 Riverview Ave, Auburndale, Newton, MA
Sidney Hutter was one of the early members of the Pilchuck School. Sid was among the first artists in the world who experimented with laminated glass techniques and is considered a pioneer in the American Studio Glass Movement. |
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2022, March 9
Program: An Overview of Sand Carving Decoration on American Glass
Presented by Founders Member Amy Boches
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Sand carving is a process where glass is removed from a vase or other form by blasting sand. This talk began with a little about the technique itself and then covered the beautiful use of sand carving glass by early 20th Century American glass companies and Mid Century decorators. |
2022, February 9
Program: Hobbs - Art Glass for the Middle Class
Presented by Bill & Ellen Morrison
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Morrison's provided an overview of the art glass production at Hobbs during the decade 1882-1892. This was a chronological survey using examples from their personal collection. They provided context for the pieces within the history of the Hobbs companies. |
2021, May 12
Program: "Emil Larson, The Glassblower's Glassblower"
Presented by Founders Member Thomas C. Haunton
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Glass collector and historian Thomas C. Haunton returned to the Founders Chapter to share his expertise of 20th century American glass. He give a presentation entitled Emil Larson, The Glassblower's Glassblower, about the sixty-year career of this Dorflinger, Durand, and independent shop artisan who could make virtually anything in glass. |
2021, April 14
Program: Virginia B. Evans & the development of Imperial's Cathay Crystal
Presented by Founders Member Louis Lopilato
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Louis presented an overview of the artist Virginia B. Evans turned designer of glassware, her introduction to the Imperial Glass Co., and the development of the Cathay Crystal line.
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2020, December 9
Program: Settings Standards - Decades of Glassmaking in New England
Presented by Jay Rogers
2020, November 11
Program: Lamps and Lighting
Presented by Founders Member Art Green
2020, October 14
Program: American Children's Glass
Presented by Founders Member Amy Boches
2020, March 11
AM Program: "Candlesticks"
Led by Member Jean Herbert of Founders Chapter
PM Program: "The Little Glass Factory That Could"
Presented by Diane Tobin, Author and 20+ year Meriden resident
The Meriden Flint Glass Company.
2019, December 10
Holiday Luncheon and Silent Auction: Our special meal to celebrate the holidays will be catered and we will hold our Silent Auction throughout the day.
PM Program: "Contemporary Glass Bead Making"
Presented by Kristina Logan.
Kristina told her story of how she began making beeds, her inspration, and how she her style developed.
2019, November 13
FIeld Trip: Visit a Spectacular Private Collection in Cambridge, MA.
2019, October 2
AM Program: The morning topic was “Smalls” and members presented small items from their collections including salts, nut dished, paperweights, small compotes and whimseys.
PM Program: The afternoon program “Pairpoint Glass” was presented by Maria. Maria shared a spectacular number of Pairpoint glass pieces from her collection. The Pairpoint colors are very true and beautiful. Pairpoint started in Boston as a silver company making quadruple plate silver items. When they moved to New Bedford they paired with the Mount Washington Glass Company and made silver pieces to hold some of the glass. Eventually Pairpoint bought Mount Washington and continued to make the glass under the Pairpoint name. The company had many owners over the years and at one point from 1958 to 1970 the factory was moved to Spain. In the early 1970’s it moved to Sagamore where it continues today. Much of the early paperwork and documentation is missing, possible because of some housecleaning by a previous owner. Presently the business is owned by Jeff and Gary Tulman and concentrates on making barware and doorknobs. Some of their pieces have the controlled bubble for which Pairpoint is famous. A lively discussion was held regarding Pairpoint cup plates and the collecting frenzy during the 1970’s. They made more than 800 designs of these plates, mostly for commissions for groups or historic homes. Maria showed Plate #1, which is highly prized, and had a story about buying it at a flea market.