The Alchemy of Color: Exploring the Evolution of Glassmaking in the Golden Age

Thursday, November 6, 2025, 2025

This lecture offers an in-depth exploration of the creative and technical innovations that defined glassmaking during the modern era. Led by expert Amy McHugh, we will trace the progression of color in glass from the subtle hues and brilliant cut glass of the mid-19th century to the vibrant, striking tones that emerged in the late-19th and early 20th centuries.

As technological knowledge advanced, so did artisans’ ability to manipulate materials, leading to increasingly diverse aesthetics and broader palettes. However, a dramatic shift in coloration around 1880 raises compelling questions: Why use new colors now? What were the outcomes of the glassmakers’ experiments? How were these vivid designs incorporated in the modern home?

This talk investigates how chemistry, industry, and design converged to transform the art of glassmaking during the age of the “color revolution.” Attendees will gain a deeper appreciation of the intersection between innovation and artistry in one of history’s most ubiquitous materials.

About the Speaker

As Curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, Amy McHugh provides the vision, strategic direction and oversight for the Museum’s modern glass collection. She is responsible for acquisitions, exhibitions, cataloguing, and research of the modern glass collection, which includes works from all cultures dating from 1825 to 1945 and numbers approximately 22,000 objects.