Page 43 - July1998

July 1998 I$Iff IONI\N, BLITTON BUN,I,ETIN 185

Jhe Uorios
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Fires have burned bright and hot for the glassmakers of New Jersey
for well over two hundred years. Enriched with an abundance of
hardwood and large deposits of nearly pure quartz sand, Jersey has
become home to hundreds of talented glassworkers. Caspar Wistar is
given credit for being the first to build a glass plant in Salem County in
1739 which operated until 1781 . Other important glass centers followed in
Vineland, Porl Elizabeth and Millville.
C)oon to arrive on the scene and enhance the Jersey glass tradition
was Louis P. lorio (born in ltaly in 1BB2) who, with his family, eventually
settled in Flemington. This was home to the Empire Glass Company which
opened in 1904, a firm recognized for fine engraving and cutting. Louis,
known as "Mr. Cut Glass, " added his designs and carved brilliance to
Empire's production until the company ceased to operate in the early
1920s. Many of the numerous decorative patterns found in the old Empire
catalogue can be attributed to him. Louis once stated, "l can put anything
on glass that an artist can put on canvas. According to one of his
grandsons, Louis was given the tools of his trade in lieu of a final pay
check, tools that would serve him well in his own cutting and engraving
business until his death at the age of 99 in 1981.
Another of Louis' talents deserves mention. With the knowledge of
chemistry gained from his father, he, along with his two brothers and later
his son William, designed and manufactured fireworks as well as
orchestrated dazzling pyrotechnic shows for the public. Their most
notable achievement may have been in arranging the spectacular
fireworks on the Great White Way for the New York Wodd's Fair, 1939-40.
William L, lorio (1914-1986) not only shared the family interest in
fireworks but also apprenticed in hisfather's business until 1945 when he
became his partner. He spent his entire career as an engraver, cutter, and
designer as well as a glass restorer for collectors and museums. William's
interest was not confined to the work place. By his own count in 1972, he
had collected 2500 individual pieces of glass dating from 1500 BC, many
of which were on display at the lorio Museum and Glass Shop in
Flemington. His library consisted of 2200 books, articles, manuscripts,
and clippings pertaining to every aspect of the subject.
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(-;ngraving, cutting, restoring, and collecting, however, were not to
be the culmination of his career. Both William and his father had admired
the creative genius of the inimitable Frederick Carder (1863-1963),
founder of Steuben Glass, whom they had met on several occasions in
Corning, New York, A giant among his contemporaries, Carder was
recognized for his extraordinary designs and glorrous colors which