Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => USA => Topic started by: Anne on December 24, 2007, 03:55:22 AM
-
I found two sales on eBay for items marked as Gay-Fad, by marked I mean as part of the pattern, not as a comment on their target market. One of the items is the slumped, printed tray here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170180611643 which is reminiscent of Golden Calypto. The other items are printed tots here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290193445982
Anyone know who Gay-Fad items were made by?
-
New one on me, but I am wondering if they are earlier than the 1950s timeline one seller gives the tots. I can see what you mean about the similarity to Gold Calypto though, which does look later than 1950s.
I can't offer an immediate solution, but based on the textured glass used, Behrenberg are one US-based company that might have been involved:
http://www.behrenbergglass.com/
Perhaps Gay-Fad was a brand name, like Chance's 'Fiesta'?
-
Bit more on this:
http://www.collectoronline.com/9866/InventoryPage/1617105/1.html?pageNo=1&catId=36
Has several items produced by Fire King and decorated by Gay Fad - possibly a transfer company?
http://www.replacements.com/crystal/GYF.htm
Lists two tumblers - one looking like 1960s
Also on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190179988206
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220185464209
The last looks much later - perhaps even 1970s?
-
Tut-tut, you are both subscribers to the Glass-Study too!
I looked, so I know 8) even a nice pictorial advert there.
-
Ooops, so there is!
Glass-Study.com is gradually replacing Google as the definitive source! ;D
-
All Gay Fad was hand painted. The Gay Fad Studio was directly across the street from the main Anchor Hocking Plant in the mid-fifties. Unless our reference books are all incorrect, you will never find any Gay Fad glass that was transfer printed.
Note: Not all hand painted Anchor Hocking glass is Gay Fad.
Just as an aside, my wife has been tucking away Gay Fad for many years. It makes a very attractive collection, and because of the handwork, I suspect it is far more likely to appreciate than the bulk of transfer print.
-
Not wishing to doubt you, Paul, but I would think that 'hand-applied' might be more appropriate. Looking at the one eBay listing that I posted:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220185464209
If you supersize the images, and look closely at the design, it does not lend itself to being hand-painted - particularly the graduations in the colours. In fact, I am wondering if these were silk-screened, stencilled or stamped.
Whatever: they are very expressive designs and I agree they will appreciate as collectables.
-
Oops! Frank, I think we'll need a Firefox search plugin for Glass Study soon!
Paul, thanks for the info. I'm constantly amazed at what the folks on this board know about. (Thanks for the email re the rummer too, I'll reply off-board.)
David, I'm glad it wasn't just me who'd not heard of it. Thanks for the info too. :)
-
In their advert they state "Hand decorated" which could mean applying transfers (decals), using stencils or free-hand and even silk-screen printing or sand blasting. Also bear in mind that while commonly used in printed form, it is quite possible to paint transfers. The benefit being that you can complete your design on flat paper before transferring it to the glass. I presume some enamels can be used in an air-brush... it is possible to create such gradations using stencils and air brush.
Brands such as Chance, Houze, Swanky-swigs and Gay-Fad are likely to be the most popular of the decorated glassware but designers will also get collected - but it is the larger volume producers that will be most collected simply because of size of ranges and availability. Of course the internet makes it possible to give equal weight to a wider range of makers than was possible in an book supported market - this could impact what becomes popular too.
-
Oops! Frank, I think we'll need a Firefox search plugin for Glass Study soon!
Frank, following on from this throwaway comment, I came across this and wondered if it might be of use to you for the Glass Study website? http://toolbarwizard.vmn.net/
-
Check here:
http://www.santafetradingpost.com/emails7.html
-
Thank you for that link! And welcome to the GMB. :) :)
-
Perhaps Gay-Fad was a brand name, like Chance's 'Fiesta'?
Indeed it was a brand name.
Check out the following:
http://www.santafetradingpost.com/gay_fad_exhibit_.html
-
Good selection on that link, clearly a mix of transfer (decal) and hand finishing and maybe some full hand.
Can anyone say if they are permanent fired or the more common, for USA, of cold decorated?
-
Good selection on that link, clearly a mix of transfer (decal) and hand finishing and maybe some full hand.
A mix of full hand painted and hand finished silk screens, she does not seem to have done decals or transfers.
Can anyone say if they are permanent fired or the more common, for USA, of cold decorated?
"First introduced in 1947, a Gay Fad ad in the June edition of House Beautiful says: “You’ll love International Ballet by Gay Fad. These gay, colorful dancers are hand-decorated by Gay Fad artists and ceramic fired so their lovely colors will last the life of the glasses."
"Outstanding example of Gay Fad’s early work, having been introduced a mere two years after Fran Taylor opened Gay Fad Studios in Lancaster, Ohio"
http://www.santafetradingpost.com/gay_fad_2.html#4
-
See http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,14004.0.html
1940s is a bit to to early for direct screen printing on glass although it was in use from 1930s. Note also that variety between pieces can be by creating several screens to the same design giving the effect of individually decorated items. As the screens are painted by hand it still qualifies as hand-decorated though.