Vintage STEUBEN art glass BUTTERFLY PENDANT 18k gold NR

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Vintage STEUBEN art glass BUTTERFLY PENDANT 18k gold NR

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Sold Date: 02/21/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Glass

Destined to become a treasured family heirloom... a magnificent and special gift (wrapped with tickets to Madame Butterfly )! Or for the collector who recognizes the rarest of the rare, this:

signed Steuben

18k gold

Butterfly Pendant Necklace

Consider this stunning miniature master work, a copper wheel engraved Butterfly Pendant set in 18k gold . Hand created in the Steuben American tradition of excellence and designed by Eric Hilton in 1979. Possibly one of a kind* (or very limited production--It appears on page 314 of the MJ Madigan 2003 edition of Steuben Glass, An American Tradition in Crystal (a copy of this book's page is shown below, a copy of the NY Times Magazine ad this design appeared in and a copy from the original Steuben Catalog in which this appeared will accompany this piece along with the original recent appraisal by Steuben glass at just under $14000). It's fine flannel storage bag is included, making this very giftable.

The details: Four steuben glass carved and shaped "wings" are delicately copper wheel engraved with mottlings and designs similar to the iridescence of the butterfly. These are set in an 18k gold framework with a hinged back (possibly of sterling and hinged for ease of cleaning). The butterfly's antennae are wrapped around a 14k gold neck ring with an inner diameter of 15". The pendant length is 2 &1/2". It weighs approx. 4 oz. and is stamped with an "S" for Steuben and 18k on the side under the antennae which I have tried to photo. (see below)

To quote the Steuben Catalog: "...the rippling lines are evocative of flight. Twenty four polished and cut circular forms combine with the engraved lines to suggest the natural patterns found on butterfly wings. Each wing has two triangular facets and an undulating edge."

Condition: This master art work is in near perfect condition with signs of very little wear or use. Along one inner wing edge t is a tiny and very minor roughness which is visible with a loup but not readily visible to the naked eye or in the close up photo below.

Steuben Glass is the premier American glass company founded by Frederick Carder in 1903. It ranks with Baccarat, Lalique, Daum, Orrefors and Tiffany as one of the worlds foremost artisan glass houses. Steuben glass continues to be hand made by American craftsmen at the works in Corning NY. Because it is hand made, each piece is unique. Steuben glass is frequently the United States' gift of State to foreign dignitaries. Steuben markets no "seconds". Items that do not meet their exacting production standards are destroyed by being smashed in a bin.

I have set a very fair "buy it now" and will consider reasonable offers for this terrific Steuben art glass pendant necklace.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions and thank you for your interest in this item. I pay Ebay extra so that you can enlarge the photos. Please do so and take a closer look at this gorgeous Butterfly Pendant . Also please check out my other Steuben and art glass items on Ebay this week.

This item will be double boxed and shipped registered express mail. The shipping charge listed is an estimate for this registered express service. I will email winning bidder with total/invoice. I accept Paypal and postal money orders. Thank you again for your interest in this beautiful work of art.

(this is Steuben design #0258--and unlike the "mass produced" Steuben Strawberry and Rosebud necklaces--this art work is copper wheel engraved a technique equivalent to hand painting or etching a design in glass--the very time consuming work of a master glass artist).

*Mr. Hilton indicated that this pendant is the only one that he thought was made. Steuben Glass would not give out this information, however, these copper wheel engraved jewelry pieces were made either in limited editions of 25 or by special order only.

Eric Hilton is the designer of the famous Steuben sculpture Innerland as well as Macbeth, the recent Steuben/Steinway Cen...