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The Libby Glass Company Provides A Extensive And Illustrious Story by Ben Pate
in Home / Home Accessories (submitted 2011-02-21)
In the U. S. There is no more well known and respected name than Libby glass when it comes to quality. The Libbey brand has the lion share of home and restaurant glassware sales in the U. S. Exquisite stemware, bowls, and serving-ware are just some of the products this enormously adaptable company has produced.
The Libbey company produced etched and gilded glassware with products such as water pitchers, and even doorknobs and lamps used for railroads through some of the early years. Libbey glassware was considered quality but even so, the company struggled to stay solvent. In part the financial woes of the Libbey company had to do with their location and the fact that glass was not only expensive to make in terms of material but labor intensive.
Libbey manufacturing was relocated in 1877 moving to Toledo Ohio where the railway made materials easier to get and the city of Toledo became known for the products that the Libbey company produced. Libbey had a difficult time during the depression as did the rest of America and they turned to making inexpensive glassware and promotional items to stay solvent. Glassware from that era is collectible and the Libbey name is valued as much for its utility, beauty and craftsmanship as for the rarity of those vintage pieces.
Older pieces produced by Libbey were often etched and gilded. Colored glassware was popular as well and Libbey sets are highly sought after by collectors. Libbey collectors the world over seek that one pitcher or that etched and gilded glass high and low and vintage bar ware, table ware and serving ware brings prices their makers would find hard to believe.
In 1933 Libbey began producing custom and exquisite stemware and glassware again. These beautiful designs and exquisite pieces were a change from the hard to break tumblers and restaurant glass they had been making to show a profit. Shortly after Douglas Nash, a former Tiffany designer joined the team and led the design team to produce even more memorable designs including the Eagle and Star etch produced for the World's Fair.
With such an illustrious and nearly 200 year long history it is not surprising that Libbey is a name seen in homes, restaurants and the display cabinets of collectors. What might be surprising is that although Libbey still produces high end custom wares they also count some of the largest U. S. Discount stores among their customers. From economical and hard to break drinking glasses to crystal clear wine glasses the company rules the industry in America.
Libbey has a full line of tableware, service ware and flatware for restaurants and hotels. During its early years the Libbey company maintained only a single manufacturing site in Toledo Ohio. Today though Libbey manufacturing can be found in ceramics, tableware, custom glassware in five different factories located in Toledo, Mexico, Louisiana, the Netherlands and China.
About the Author
Libbey glass company clearly reflects the economic struggles and victories of the United States over its history. This giant in the glass-making industry began as a small and none too profitable company and grew eventually to a name recognized throughout the world. The secret to the success of Libbey is their adaptability and willingness to change focus depending upon the current climate. Over the years the company has flourished in good times and weathered the bad by meeting the current needs of the customer such as with water pitchers.
