January News...Moser: Glass of Kings, King of Glass

Should auld acquaintance be forgot?
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

(Credited to Scottish poet Robert Burns)

Victorian New Year Card We'd like to wish all of our acquaintances, old and new, a happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year! We hope your holidays were as magical as ours were. The Antique Center and the International Antiques and Home Design Center are gearing up for a fabulous 2008. All year we will be celebrating our 20^th Anniversary. Each month we will be presenting special events and lectures on various topics of interest. Join us to celebrate and gather valuable information from some of the area'smost knowledgeable and trusted experts.

This month, our Spotlight Dealer is Gary D. Baldwin, of A Touch of Glass and author of three highly regarded books about Moser Glass. In addition to the article in this issue of our newsletter, he will be giving a free lecture on the History of Moser Glass at the International Antiques and Home Design Center on January 20 at 4pm. The lecture will include exquisite examples of Moser as well as complimentary glass appraisals. And don't forget to purchase your signed copy of one or all of his books!

2007 brought the addition of our Home Design Partners at The International Antiques & Home Design Center. We now feature several home improvement specialty partners, making us truly a "one stop" shop for our customers looking to refurnish, renovate and redecorate. We continue, of course, to offer the finest and best presented selection of Antiques and Collectibles in the Mid-Atlantic Region at both Centers.

Inside this issue, you will find Mr. Baldwin's article, Moser: Glass of Kings, as well as a recipe for Good Luck Soup, made with black-eyed peas for luck, a tradition that goes back three centuries in the South.

We're so grateful for our wonderful staff, our dealers & home design partners, and for all of you whose acquaintance we've been lucky enough to make over the last 20 years. We look forward to many more years of success and friendship.

Spotlight Dealer:

A Touch of Glass, Gary Baldwin

Gary D. Baldwin is a graduate of Drexel Institute of Technology (Drexel University) where he majored in physics. Mr. Baldwin is presently retired from the Northrop Grumman Corp. where he was involved in laser research and Electro-optical system development for over 40 years.

Consumed by a passionate interest in artistic glass, particularly with respect to the Central European area, he has conducted intensive research into his specialty field of Moser glass. Mr. Baldwin is a respected dealer in fine quality glassware and has a retail outlet at The Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill in Savage, Md.

Moser: Artistry in Glass & Moser, The Klabin Collection In addition, Mr. Baldwin is the author of three books on Moser glass: "Moser-Artistry in Glass, 1857-1938", "Moser Artistic Glass, Edition Two" and "Moser Glass, The Klabin Collection". He is a noted lecturer on Moser glass, the author of several articles that appeared in the GLASS COLLECTOR'S DIGEST, and is a member of the National Early American Glass Club.

Gary Baldwin has been a dealer at the Antique Center at Savage Mill since 1988. We are fortunate to have had such a well respected expert in our midst for nearly 20 years!

Upcoming Events

Sunday, January 20, 4 PM

History of Moser Glass

"Glass of Kings, King of Glass"

Presented by author, Gary Baldwin of A Touch of Glass Antiques

Event will include Moser Glass examples & complimentary glass identification

Signed copies of Mr. Baldwin's books will be available for purchase!

In the Next Issue

Spotlight Dealer:

McD's Antiques, Fine Oak Furniture

Gary McDaniel of McD's Antiques, will share his expertise on oak furniture in an article titled "The Golden Age of Oak"

Moser: Glass of Kings

by Gary Baldwin, A Touch of Glass

"MOSER: Glass of Kings, King of Glass", as quoted in present day Moser advertising brochures, may, at first, seem a bit pretentious. However, historic documentation, and an internationally recognized commitment to creating luxury glassware of the highest possible quality, has unquestionably maintained Moser in an enviable position relative to the world's greatest glass making houses. During the latter half of the 19th Century, Moser artists created a large category of unique decorative styles. These designs were not only extremely popular at the time of their inception, but formed the basis for many 20th Century decorative forms. Unlike some artistic epochs, which exist for only short periods of time, Moser's 19th and early 20th Century artistic designs retain an universal appeal up to the present day.

In March of 1857 Ludwig Moser purchased a former restaurant which he converted into a well equipped engraving studio. This studio was located near the sanatorium promenade in Karlsbad Austria (present day, Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic). Moser Vase c.1925; H. Haussman, artist Within a comparatively short period, the firm founded by Ludwig Moser ascended from the drab surroundings of a spa engraving studio to become a world celebrated supplier of artistic glass. Through an international network of fine shops, Moser sold luxury glassware to socially prominent and wealthy patrons and included among his customers crowned heads of Europe and the Middle East. In 1860, cut products marketed by Moser gained favorable recognition at the Industrial Exhibition in Vienna. In 1862, Moser won a medal at the World Exhibition in London. In response to the increased product demand that accompanied these accolades, Ludwig Moser opened a new decorating workshop at Meistersdorf (Mistrovice) near Steinschönau. This facility, organized around 1870, included engraving and cutting shops and a large enameling studio.

Prior to 1895, Moser artists were acknowledged masters at adapting the themes of romantic painters, as well as Bohemian Renaissance, Baroque, Islamic, Indian, Japanese, and Chinese artistic motifs, to create distinctively decorated enameled artware. During this period, glass marketed by Moser consisted of highly distinctive decorative motifs applied to glass blanks purchased from major Bohemian glasshouses. Success abroad was ensured Moser Animor Vase, Art Deco, c.1920-1930 by an extensive network of glass merchandising centers, while, at home, the appointment of Ludwig Moser as "Supplier of Glass" to the Austrian Imperial Court of Franz Joseph solidified his position as a major Bohemian manufacturer of artistic glass. 1895 witnessed the completion of Moser's glassworks at Meierhöfen (present day Dvory). Technical perfection of the glass melt and forming process, development of complementary cutting and engraving techniques and the introduction of new colored glass formulations became an all consuming passion. Moser's dedication to excellence was rewarded by a high level of visibility at international competitions and a seemingly endless procession of socially prominent Moser Lamp, Art Deco, circa 1920-1930 patrons.

Since the fall of Communism and the reestablishment of a free enterprise economy, The Moser Co. has regained its former international presence. Firm reliance on the popularity and social acceptance of designs produced prior to World War II, as well as a progressive look to the future through the eyes of contemporary Czech artists, has once more established Moser as the dominant producer of luxury glass in Central Europe.

(Photographs courtesy of Gary D. Baldwin)

Recipe of the Month

Recipe of the Month:

Good Luck Soup

A Southern Tradition for New Year's Day

(but it's never too late for a little luck!)

Good Luck Soup (serves 6-8)

In a large soup pot, combine the peas, stock, ham hock, ham cubes, onions, pepper, celery, garlic, and chili peppers.

Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low, re-cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

When the peas are tender, stir in the okra and salt to taste, bring back to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 30 more minutes. The soup should be thickening and you should stir it frequently to prevent scorching.

Remove the cover and cook, stirring, until creamy thick--as much as 10 minutes.

If you are ready to serve, remove the ham hock and chilies and ladle into bowls.

If you are saving to serve later, let cool in the pot, then refrigerate. Reheat carefully, stirring often, when preparing to serve.

Black-eyed peas (sometimes known as cowpeas) originated in Africa, though they've been fundamental to the Southern diet for at least three centuries. Southerners believe that those who eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will have good luck throughout the coming year. Good luck soup is best made a day ahead, and that will give you time to sit back and enjoy the holiday with friends. Serve with plenty of hot, buttered cornbread and your luck can only get better." In fact, the peas likely started life in China and were carried by Arab traders to Africa before making that transatlantic leap to the American south. The soup is excellent: smoky flavor punctuated by smooth beans, okra's silken crunch, and the bite of hot chilies. It's good luck...and good eating--any time of the year.

Happy New Year from Our Home Design Partners

Offering Special Discounts Now Through February 15, 2008

Offers Vary by Partner · Please Call For Details

Daily 10 am-6 pm 410-792-4872 · 301-470-4373

Baltimore Metal Crafters

Our Home Design Partners at The International Antiques & Home Design Center present a wide array of home improvement services including landscaping and water features, fabric and wallpaper, faux finishes, kitchen refacing, closet and garage organization, sunrooms, metal restoration and refinishing and complete kitchen and bath renovations.