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How did the Steuben Glass Company use engraved and incised designs?

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fish of core-made glass — glassware Fish of core-made glass with “combed” decoration, Egyptian, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty (c. 1363–46 bc). In the British Museum. 0.141 m × .069 m.

The Steuben Glass Company utilized engraved and incised designs to elevate their products to the status of fine art. Following a shift in direction in 1933 under Arthur Amory Houghton, Jr., the firm began focusing on high-quality, colourless lead crystal, which served as a clear canvas for these decorative techniques.123

The company collaborated with notable designers and sculptors, such as Sidney Waugh, to create sophisticated glass pieces featuring engraved decoration. In the context of glass art, engraving typically involves incising patterns or pictures into the surface of the glass, often using a copper wheel fed with abrasives. This process allows for detailed, three-dimensional imagery. By incorporating these refined engraving and incising methods, Steuben distinguished its work from mass-produced glassware, emphasizing craftsmanship and artistic expression in its clear crystal designs.1432