Libbey+Glass+Company

World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 (2009)__ **
 * __​ Libbey Glass Company

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"...glass has usurped the place of linen, silk, and other textile fabrics!" "The Libbey Glass Exhibits." New York Times ; Aug 6, 1893  || Before the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Libbey Glass Company was little known. After relocating the business from Boston to Toledo, Ohio in 1888, Edward Libbey decided to set up an extravagant display at the World's Fair in Chicago in order to attract publicity for his company. The costly exhibit benefitted the company greatly; it attracted over two million visitors. Even the Princess Infanta Eulalia of Spain made a special visit to the pavillion to see the dress made of spun glass for the famous Broadway actress, Georgia Cayban. Miss Cayban's elegant glass dress brought the Libbey Glass Company to the forefront of fine craftsmanship, bringing them instant notoriety and fame all over the world. To this day, the Libbey Glass Company continues to make exquisite products. According to a New York Times article from July 16, 1893, the exhibit at the 1893 World's Fair was "constantly crowded with visitors who are rewarded by an exposition of the highest art in American glassmaking".
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 * **The Midway Plaisance** World's Columbian Exposition 1893​

//"The Libbey Glass building, which can be seen on the right of the stereoscopic view, is an example of this new kind of fair exhibit. It was designed to resemble a palace. Twin towers flanked its entrance and a large 100-foot dome doubled as a chimney for the pavilion's furnace. Inside, the glass-making process was displayed in its entirety for the fairgoers, from its initial manufacture to the intricate arts of glass blowing and cutting. With shelves full of glass objects, from cut glass vases and bowls to spun glass ceiling coverings and tapestries, and walls covered with mirrors, it was a breathtaking Midway building done completely in transparent, shining glass."// Account of Ricardo Gonzalez, Chicago, 1893



More Examples of Fine Artwork Exhibited at the Libbey Glass Pavilion, 1893

Want to find out more? View our sources below:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">The Libbey Exhibit Constantly Crowded. - Article Preview - The New York Times." //The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia//. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[]

"Chicago 1893 A Treasury of World's Fair Art & Architecture." //University of Maryland Libraries//. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. [].

"TRINOVA CORPORATION -- Company History." //Connecting Angel Investors and Entrepreneurs//. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. <http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/TRINOVA-CORPORATION-Company-History.html>.