above: toothpick holder
by Joe St. Clair
above: paperweight by
Maude & Bob St Clair
|
St. Clair Glass: A short explanation
St Clair glass was made in Elwood, Indiana between 1938 and 1987, and since then the family tradition of glass-making has been continued by Joe Rice.
John ("Pop") St Clair and his five sons worked in the Macbeth Evans glassworks, Elwood, during the 1930's. When this glassworks closed in 1938 Joe St Clair started his own small workshop, called "St Clair Glass" and three years later his father and brothers Bob and Paul joined him.
John "Pop" St Clair died in 1958, and Joe himself retired in 1971 at which time he sold the glassworks. Joe St Clair was not long in retirement. After three years he returned to form another glassworks in 1974, which he called "Joe St Clair's Art Glass" and continued there for about another ten years.
Joe's brother Bob St Clair set up another glass factory near Elwood in 1971, which he called "St Clair House of Glass". Bob and his wife Maude marked their glass "Maude and Bob St Clair" and the paperweight on the left is an example of their work. When Bob died, his nephew Joe Rice took over this factory in 1987 and renamed it "Joe Rice's House of Glass".
St Clair glass is usually clearly marked and easy to identify. They specialised in small items like carnival glass goblets and tumblers, paperweights, toothpick holders, and novelties. The caramel slag glass toothpick holder on the left is marked "JOE ST. CLAIR" and the paperweight is marked "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR 1974".
If you are looking for St Clair glass, you can usually find items on offer on ebay
(click here to see St Clair glass listings on ebay).
|
