Heisey Glass Museum

09/05/2026

In celebration of Labor Day on Monday we’re taking the opportunity to share a little Heisey labor history. The Heisey Glass Company was well known for its kind treatment of employees and support for their participation in unions. Many Heisey workers belonged to the American Flint Glass Workers Union (AFGWU) which was founded in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1878, and represented tens of thousands of skilled glass makers in the United States and Canada until its merger with the United Steelworkers Union (USW) in 2003.

Heisey records and local newspaper articles show that the company experienced very few labor struggles over its 62 years of operation. Only two strikes took place, in 1936 and 1950 primarily, over wage disputes and both tied to broader economic difficulties rather than poor company policies. Additionally, Heisey’s presidents were known to support union workers when possible. A.H. Heisey donated to the local unions on several occasions and both E. Wilson. and T. Clarence Heisey (A.H. Heisey’s sons) spoke at the welcome address for the AFGWU national conference held in Newark in 1936. It was not uncommon for Heisey employees to state that they felt like family and to express pride in their work for the company which may in part explain why Heisey glass maintains a reputation for its high quality.

Learn more about the history of the Heisey Glass Company at the Heisey Glass Museum open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10am-4pm.

See what else the Heisey Glass Museum has to offer at our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org/

Research assistance for this post provided by the Licking County Historical Society

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

It’s time for some more Heisey science! Did you know that pressed Heisey Crystal and some blown Heisey Crystal pieces glow yellow under a 365nm black light? This glow may make one wonder if Heisey Crystal is radioactive like uranium glass. It’s not. The glow is caused by an element called manganese which is a non-radioactive element often used by glassmakers as a clarifying agent. The sand used to make glass naturally contains iron which can give glass a green or aqua tint. Heisey added manganese to counteract this discoloration and create the high quality crystal we know today. But, be careful leaving Heisey crystal in the sun for too long. Manganese is also why prolonged exposure to sunlight can give Heisey Crystal a lavender or “sun purpled” tint. Additionally, collectors should be wary of glass that glows blue instead of yellow. Later clear glass reproductions of Heisey made by the Imperial Glass Corporation often glow blue because of their use of different clarifying agents.

09/01/2026

Our fall auctions are just over a month away. Find more information about each below or on our website at: https://heiseymuseum.org/events/

08/29/2026

Ever a leader in marketing, Heisey was one of the first glass companies in the United States to mark its glass pieces with a trademark. The iconic Diamond H found on many Heisey pieces was designed by A.H. Heisey’s eldest son, George Duncan Heisey around 1900. He modeled it after his fraternity’s (Psi Upsilon) diamond symbol. Shortly after designing the Diamond H, the Heisey Glass Company began using it in advertisements and it was officially registered by the U.S. Patent Office on August 6, 1901. Originally the mark was large and placed in a prominent location, usually the center bottom of a piece. An advertisement from 1913 directs the buyer to look for the mark on every piece as a type of hallmark that guaranteed quality glassware. Over time the mark became smaller and the placement could vary. Sometimes it is found behind a foot or on a stem or rim. Occasionally the mark appears on both sides of a divided item like a two-part relish. Not all pieces of Heisey glass made after 1900 are marked in the glass. Later advertisements acknowledged this fact by stating the mark was either “embossed on the glass or on an adhesive label.” The Diamond H remains an enduring symbol of the company and adds an exciting element to the search for Heisey glass by collectors today.

Learn more about the Diamond H and the Heisey Glass Museum at our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org

08/27/2026

A hidden gem of the Heisey Glass Museum is our “Heisey in Hollywood” display. Heisey’s high-quality glassware has made it a favorite of the rich and famous for decades and it’s not uncommon to find Heisey glass everywhere from movie sets, to music videos, and even in the White House!

See all the ways Heisey glass has made its mark on Hollywood at the Heisey Glass Museum open Tuesday-Saturdays from 10am-4pm.

And, learn more about our current exhibits on our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org/exhibits/

08/25/2026

We’re excited to share another new, rare donation to the Heisey Glass Museum’s permanent collections! This latest acquisition is a No. 300 Peerless low-footed goblet in Alexandrite donated by Karen Taylo in memory of Emogene Shomaker, a founding member of the Heisey Collectors of America.

The Nos. 300 and 300 ½ Peerless pattern lines were Heisey’s first foray into colonial patterns in 1899 and they would go on to be some of Heisey’s longest produced and most extensive patterns. However, most Peerless pieces were manufactured in crystal, and it is rare to find any in color, especially a color as uncommon as Alexandrite, making this goblet a unique find.

See this new acquisition and other rare Heisey pieces at the Heisey Glass Museum open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-4pm

Learn more about the Heisey Glass Museum at our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org/

08/22/2026

Did you know that past issues of our monthly newsletter, "Heisey News", are available on the Heisey Glass Museum’s website? It’s true! Issues one year or older are freely accessible in our Heisey News Archive, a project started in June 2010 by our former curator Walter Ludwig in honor of longtime HCA member Joe Lokay. Start learning more about Heisey’s history in our archives here: https://heiseymuseum.org/newsletter/

Want to see the latest issue of "Heisey News"? Become a Heisey Collectors of America member! Learn how here: https://heiseymuseum.org/join-heisey-collectors-of-america/

08/20/2026

A couple weeks ago we featured Heisey’s No. 1447 Rococo pattern so it’s only fitting that we now highlight their No. 4044 New Era pattern also introduced in 1934.

As mentioned in our previous post, Rococo and New Era were dramatically different pattern lines. New Era, originally called Modern, was a truly Art Deco line which set it apart from Heisey’s many conservative patterns. The rectangular plate with a circular center was inspired by a pottery piece designed by Jean Luc of Paris. The full New Era line consisted of roughly 25 pieces produced from 1934-1941. Production of New Era largely stopped because of WWII but the candlestick, celery, and stemware were re-introduced in 1944 and manufactured until Heisey’s closure in 1957. The New Era candlestick was by far the line’s most popular piece, so much so that the Imperial Glass Corporation continued to reproduce it until 1972. New Era was made largely in crystal with many Heisey etchings and cuttings. However, stemware was made with Cobalt bowls only in 1934 making these pieces rare and much sought after by collectors today.

See No. 4044 New Era and other striking Heisey patterns at the Heisey Glass Museum open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10am-4pm.

Learn more about the Heisey Glass Museum at our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org/

08/18/2026

We’re happy to share another special new donation to the Heisey Glass Museum’s collections. During our most recent convention in June the Buckeye Heisey Collectors Club donated this rare No. 4054 Coronation 10oz soda with Saturn optic in Zircon. The donation was made in memory of past Heisey Collectors of America president David Blair who passed away last September. Blair was a great supporter of the Heisey Glass Museum. His passing was a tremendous loss to the Heisey community and we are grateful to be able to now share this unique piece in his memory.

Coronation was a blown barware line produced by Heisey from 1935 to 1957. The soda was patented on February 7, 1940 with T.C. Heisey listed as the designer. Most pieces were made plain but rarely Coronation can be found with a Saturn optic. Only a few sodas were made in Zircon and Dawn, making this new acquisition doubly unique.

See our latest acquisitions and more unique Heisey pieces at the museum open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10am-4pm.

Learn more about the Heisey Glass Museum and Heisey Collectors of America at our website here: https://heiseymuseum.org/