The annual Discovery Awards competition, sponsored by the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators (SGCD), recognizes outstanding decorated ceramic and glassware design and technical achievements. The 2006 competition featured entries from 20 companies in 35 categories. All entries were displayed in SGCD's Discovery Room during DECO 2006 in Las Vegas, Nev., March 26-28, and winners were selected by a panel of judges who reviewed each category and chose winners by consensus.
Ceramic Decals Ltd.'s Jewel House bowl, winner of the Judges' Award.
Vandenoever Award-winning vase by Fenton Glass.
The annual Discovery Awards competition, sponsored by the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators (SGCD), recognizes outstanding decorated ceramic and glassware design and technical achievements. Winners are honored during the awards banquet at the annual DECO trade show and seminar. The 2006 competition featured entries from 20 companies in 35 categories. All entries were displayed in SGCD's Discovery Room during DECO 2006 in Las Vegas, Nev., March 26-28, and winners were selected by a panel of judges who reviewed each category and chose winners by consensus.
This year's judging panel included retired SGCD Executive Director Sandra Spence; Jerry Heider, retired business director for Glass Systems Worldwide at Ferro Corp.; and Nancy Fenton, who directs the design efforts for Fenton Glass. In addition to the design and technical awards, SGCD also honored two Discovery entries with the Vandenoever Award and Judges' Award for overall merit.
The Vandenoever Award is presented annually to the company with the "best of show" piece in the Discovery Room as voted by show attendees. More than 100 attendee votes were received during this year's competition, and Fenton Glass was presented the award for the second consecutive year. This year's winning piece is a vase of pressed black glass that was sprayed with hot metallic salt, sand carved and airbrushed, and then hand painted by Robin Spindler. This entry also won the Technical Excellence Award in the Hand Decorated Glass category.
The 2006 Judges' Award for overall merit was presented to Ceramic Decals Ltd. for a bowl featuring overglaze raised enamel dots and gold decals with hand gilding. Called the Jewel House bowl, the piece was designed by William Edwards to celebrate the Royal Artifacts within the Jewel House in the Tower of London, which is home to England's Crown Jewels and other regalia. This piece also won the Technical Excellence Award in the Indirect Transfer Ceramic category.
Following is a list of all of the 2006 Discovery Award winners, along with photos of each of the winning pieces.
Food Containers, Glass: Serigraphie Richford
Design Excellence Awards
Cosmetic Containers, Glass: Johnson Matthey
Vases/Votives/Etc.: Custom Deco
Commerical/Architectural, Ceramic: Heinrich Ceramic Decal
Specialty Premium, Glass: Libbey
Specialty Premium, Ceramic: Heirloom Ceramics
Specialty Novelties and Souvenirs, Glass: Moderne Glass
Specialty Novelties and Souvenirs, Ceramic & Direct Print, Ceramic: Allen Company
Specialty Collectible, Glass: Custom Deco
Specialty Collectible, Ceramic & Indirect Transfer, Ceramic: Ceramic Decal
Specialty Artware, Glass & Hand Decorated, Glass: Fenton Art Glass
Specialty Artware: Reusche & Co.
Specialty Lighting Ware: Commercial Decal
Specialty Innovation, Ceramic: Reusche & Co.
Specialty Lighting Ware, Glass: Libbey, Inc.
Specialty Innovation, Glass: Fenton Art Glass
Casual Tableware, Glass: Libbey
Casual Tableware, Ceramic: Henrich Decal
Semi-Formal Tableware, Ceramic: Syracuse China
Tabletop Foodservice-Casual, Glass: Allen Company
Semi-Formal Tableware, Glass: Libbey
Tabletop-Formal, Ceramic: Lenox
Tabletop-Foodservice-Casual, Ceramic: Homer Laughlin China
Tabletop Foodservice-Formal, Ceramic: Homer Laughlin China
Direct Print, Glass: Moderne Glass
Technical Excellence Awards
Grit or Sandblasted Glass: Libbey
Architectural Ceramic: Beyrand
Hand Decorated, Ceramic: Tiffany & Co.
Custom Tile Ceramic: Heirloom Ceramics
FOOTNOTE
About SGCD: SGCD was founded in 1963 and now serves a record number of decorators and vendors to the decorating industry. The DECO 2007 trade show and technical seminar, including the Discovery Awards program, will take place April 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville, Ky. For membership and 2007 Discovery Award entry details, call (740) 588-9882 or visit
http://www.sgcd.org .
Editor's note: Photos by Andrew Wagner, Andrew Wagner Photography, Sewickley, Pa.
