The McFaddin-Ward House

Historic House Museum in Beaumont, Texas

Glitz, Gleam, and Glass

Now on display at our Visitor Center is a selection of brilliant glass pieces from the McFaddin-Ward House collection.

The collection contains hundreds of glass objects that belonged to Ida Caldwell McFaddin and Mamie McFaddin Ward. Over 200 of these pieces hail from the Blenko Glass Company in West Virginia and Steuben Glass Works in New York.

The McFaddins and Wards collected many beautiful Blenko Glass pieces

Englishman William J. Blenko, highly skilled in the craft of making mold-blown, stained glass windows, came to the United States in 1893. He founded the Eureka Art Glass Company in 1921, which later morphed into the Blenko Glass Company. Blenko began producing tableware and gained a reputation for good design and brilliant color.

Blenko Glass was favored by both Mamie and her mother, Ida

The Steuben Glass Works company was founded in Corning, New York in 1903 and soon rivaled the Tiffany Company in the design quality and color of its art glass. During World War I, the company suffered financially and in 1918 was sold to Corning Glass Works. Blenko glass is still produced today at its West Virginia location, while Corning Incorporated oversees the production of Steuben art glass.

Antiques Road Show Expert to Speak Here

If you love antiques at the McFaddin-Ward House, chances are you’ve heard of Antiques Road Show. Items in our collection would be dream-finds on the popular PBS Series where Average Joes and Janes rustle up antiques and collectibles for a televised appraisal. From garage sales to grandpa’s attic, it’s an array of everything from the beautiful to unusual. Sometimes, they hit it big.

One popular appraiser on the show is David Lackey, a Houston antique and art dealer, collector, and expert. In addition to creating his own art, Mr. Lackey owns an antique store in Houston. The McFaddin-Ward House has invited Lackey to speak at a free lecture in May.

David Lackey “grew up” in the antique business so-to-speak. On his sixth birthday, someone gave little David an antique penny bank in the shape of a house. This simple gift ignited David’s passion for collecting old objects, and he began to shop with his parents at flea-markets and garage sales. By the age of 12, he was selling at weekend antiques fairs and to other dealers who appreciated his keen eye for quality items.

After graduating from Baylor University, David worked as a buyer for Foley’s Department Store, although he continued to sell collectibles on weekends. He sold china and crystal he’d bought at estate sales, and pretty soon, David became known as a local expert in ceramics and glass.

By 1983 David Lackey was dealing antiques on a full-time basis, but he longed to further his knowledge. Two years later, he liquidated his business and enrolled in an intensive year-long course at Christie’s Fine Arts in London. David returned to Houston in 1986 and re-opened his business which flourished.

Ten years later, along came Antiques Roadshow. In the first season, David was asked to appraise pottery and porcelain for a filming in San Antonio, Texas. His appraisal aired on the show and David was invited to other venues. Since 1998, David has appraised at every Antiques Roadshow filming and traveled to over 100 cities.

David Lackey’s lecture on Antiques, Porcelain, Pottery, and Glass will be held Thursday May 12th at the McFaddin-Ward Visitor Center, located at 1906 Calder in Beaumont. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The lecture starts at 6:30. The lecture is free, but seating is limited to the first 90 people who arrive.

 

 

Fakes and Forgeries in the Art Market

Join us for an exciting evening with Meredith Meuwly to learn about Fakes and Forgeries in the art market!

Meredith earned her Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies and Art History from Duke University in 2000, and a Master’s degree in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and the History of the Art Market from Christie’s Education in New York in 2001. She spent the next five years in the Christie’s New York Antiquities Department as sale coordinator and cataloguer of ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Near Eastern works of art. During her time at Christie’s, she worked on numerous high profile auctions including the Doris Duke Estate, Ancient Egyptian Art from the Harer Family Trust, and the John W. Kluge Morven Collection of Ancient Art.

Meredith joined Heritage Auctions in 2007 as Senior Consignment Director in the Fine & Decorative Arts Department, overseeing two auctions each year. In January 2010, she became the Director of Appraisal Services, preparing formal appraisals for more than 35 specialist categories.

In addition to her duties at Heritage, Meredith participates as an appraiser for the Antiques Roadshow on PBS, specializing in Glass, Silver, and Decorative Arts. Meredith is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, serving on the Fine Art committee. She is also a board member of the Foundation for Appraisal Education.

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