Lens Bowl, 1932

For the year of 1932 that Teague was engaged on a design contract with the Steuben Division of Corning Glass Works, he primarily worked from his office in Manhattan and sent his designs to be carried out on the factory floor. Once a moth, Teague visited the town of Corning. Riding by train, it is likely that Teague would have observed the pressed-glass lenses that Corning Glass Works produced for railroad signals and locomotive lights. Or once he arrived at Corning he may have also seen these designs in production.[1] The concave shape of this shallow stepped lens was designed to disperse light so that it could be seen from a distance. This design was patented in 1877 by Charles F. Houghton. The concentric lines and simple geometry of the bowl appealed to Teague, who adapted it for domestic use. This design concept must have been particularly appealing to Steuben since it took advantage of design tools and materials already in production, therefore making its overall cost comparably low. Teague used the same molds as the factory did for the railroad signal lights. The original patent number from the mold has been ground off at the bottom of this bowl, leaving a visible spot on its base.

Lens Bowl, 1932; Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague (American, 1883–1960); mold-blown glass; H x diam.: 34.9 × 10.2 cm (13 3/4 in. × 4 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-35

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.