mid-century glassware, whether it's bold and bright, endearingly kitschy, or unapologetically artistic, brought a unique character to homes and elevated everyday objects. among the iconic names of this era, gay fad studios, originally from lancaster, ohio, is making an inspiring comeback after decades of dormancy.
founded by fran taylor, this quirky and vibrant glass company thrived from the 1940s to the 1980s.
it became renowned for its sophisticated yet playful hand-painted designs that perfectly captured the essence of mid-century aesthetics. today, as curious customers step into the store, they're greeted with a warm welcome, reminiscent of mid-century hosts at a cocktail party - gracious, attentive, informative, and brimming with nostalgic charm.
the space serves as both a storefront and a museum, showcasing new collections for every bar cart preference, whether it's for short or tall glasses, or for still or sparkling drinks.
the revival of gay fad studios offers fresh insight into the unique characteristics that distinguish genuine pieces from the original production lines.
discovering authenticity: a guide to vintage gay fad
jason, sporting dramatic black glasses and a stylish beanie, embodies the perfect style for a purveyor of the unique art glass that lines the shop's shelves.
he offers guidance on how to distinguish authentic pieces from similar items manufactured during the era.
identifying marks and techniques
typically, the designs feature glossy, raised ceramic paints fired at high temperatures. this process embeds the paint into the glass, resulting in a shine that endures.
while some designs were meticulously hand-painted, others combined techniques like silk-screening and acid etching, creating textured, layered effects.
modern recreations with vintage flair
the studio can now recreate glassware that captures the look and feel of mid-century designs while adhering to contemporary safety standards.
jason emphasizes that access to original catalogs and vintage advertisements helps enthusiasts match items to specific designs, further validating their finds.
fran taylor: a visionary woman in glass
fran taylor was a trailblazer who set gay fad studios apart by elevating glassware with bold and colorful designs.
she also empowered women in the workforce, a progressive stance for the time. she structured her studio to provide women with a space to express their creativity and achieve financial independence, opportunities that were scarce at the time.
reflecting on these pieces today requires acknowledging their history and being mindful of the diverse perspectives that may have been overlooked during their creation.
jason and david encourage collectors to approach each item with historical awareness and context.
a community-driven revival
for jason and david, reopening the shop has been about connecting with the past and engaging with the community in lancaster and the broader network of glass enthusiasts.
from tracing original designs to connecting with families of former employees, they've integrated both history and innovation into their business model.
gay fad now collaborates with over 75 clients. the partners, always eager to share their expertise, invite new collectors to reach out with questions or for assistance in identifying vintage gay fad pieces.
the resurgence of gay fad studios has ignited enthusiasm for mid-century glassware both locally and beyond, fostering a vibrant community of collectors and enthusiasts across generations.
gay fad has become a cultural hub, attracting seasoned collectors, younger homeowners seeking vintage authenticity, and those searching for unique wedding, birthday, and housewarming gifts.
looking ahead, gay fad studios plans to expand its offerings beyond glassware to include dinnerware and other household décor items.
exploring the world of mid-century cocktail culture
discover bottoms up, the only mid-century cocktail culture festival in the united states, held annually in lancaster, ohio.
this community, with over 9000 members, provides a supportive environment where collectors can share their finds, seek advice on identifying pieces, and delve deeper into the history and artistry of mid-century glassware.
krista montelpare, a freelance writer based in nova scotia and founder of vintage shop cellary, emphasizes the unique production process.
a custom lehr permanently fired the decorations onto the glassware. however, it was the distinctive decoration and variety of barware items that set gay fad apart from its competitors.
the artistry behind the glass
brilliant ceramic colors adorned each piece, achieving a lasting permanence, a feature that became a prominent marketing slogan.
fran taylor's innovative turntable production system enabled artists to create entire sets of matching glassware. jovial caricatures, exquisite florals, mid-century geometrics, modern art, and cultural references were all incorporated into a wide array of coordinating glassware and barware items.
partnering with domestic and international sales representatives, gay fad emerged as an artistic force, delighting customers and inspiring other glassware companies to follow its lead.
patterns like "bamboo" showcase early examples of pitcher sets where the entire pattern was meticulously hand-painted.
coordinated collections
coordinated items included a variety of glass styles, with some patterns also offering additional pitcher sizes.
"snowtrees," for example, featured a blue ceramic interior spray-fired onto the glass, creating a stunning gradient of color. the larger collection included shot glasses, single and double old fashioned glasses, a footed cocktail shaker, and complete party sets.
a symphony of glass: intermezzo
the "intermezzo" collection features each glass style depicting a different abstracted instrument in 24k gold and black ceramic against a soft pink backdrop.
together, the instruments create a harmonious symphony of glass. the collection included a diverse range of glass styles, a pitcher, and a shaker.
kinetic elegance: bolero
the "bolero" collection features kinetic linework in 24k gold swirling around each glass.
the unique cocktail shaker, reminiscent of seattle's space needle, embodies an atomic-age dream.
complementing dinnerware: starburst
gay fad often created glassware sets that complemented popular dinnerware sets of the time.
the "starburst" collection is a prime example. franciscan released their "starburst" dinnerware in 1954, followed by gay fad's "starburst" glassware pattern in 1955. it was sold in teal and yellow across two drinking glass styles and three sizes of pitchers.
the evolution of bamboo
"bamboo" exemplifies gay fad's evolving decoration methods.
earlier bamboo glasses were silkscreened on frosted glass, while later pieces were clear and incorporated 24k gold or iridescent metallics. this set also demonstrates how gay fad marked their earlier glassware with a small "gf" on the lower portion.
from 1940 to 1980, gay fad produced over 1,000 designs spanning various glassware and barware styles, each a joyful expression of technique and talent.
additionally, numerous custom projects were created for clients across america.
empowering women in the workplace
after world war ii, women pursued work for personal fulfillment rather than solely as a patriotic duty. they could earn a living while day nurseries provided care for their children.
fran taylor and bill butcher fostered a work environment that empowered women artists. gay fad even provided buses to transport women artists to the studio, encouraging each artist to approach decorating in a way that felt most comfortable to them.
butcher was a prolific artist who created numerous gay fad designs.
however, socioeconomic biases created a challenging environment for gay fad in its final years of operation. a cascade of product outsourcing issues, contract ambiguity, and intellectual property theft occurred.
challenges and closure
first, gay fad's newest national sales representative partner failed to deliver the sales that gay fad depended on, creating difficult conditions.
fran taylor sought additional revenue streams to address this issue. secondly, outsourcing items led to quality control problems, resulting in canceled fulfillment contracts and further loss of sales.
however, the third circumstance may have been the most devastating.
in 1979, a billion-dollar conglomerate acquired and altered one of fran taylor's longest-standing professional relationships with a glassware manufacturer. fighting a billion-dollar business in 1979 would have required fran taylor to liquidate all her assets to finance the legal battle.
one year later, fran taylor was involved in a severe car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.
due to the accident, she was placed in care until her passing in 2006. her untimely and tragic departure from the glassware industry left a significant void.
a legacy rediscovered
the original building remained vacant and weathered over the decades.
the glassware continued to circulate, but few people were aware of the company's history.