Culver Glass Company

Founded in 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, by the Rothenberg family, Culver Glass became a distinguished American barware brand, especially noted for its elaborate 22-karat gold designs. At the height of mid-century cocktail culture, Culver's glassware was celebrated for its richly decorated patterns featuring cultural motifs, flora and fauna, stripes, and paisley. One of its most successful patterns was the Moroccan-inspired "Valencia," a bestseller in high-end department stores, known for its intricate gold trellis design embellished with green rhinestones.

Culver Glass initially distinguished itself with glassware that bore acid-etched, sandblasted, hand-painted, or silk-screened designs. By the late 1950s, the company innovated a proprietary technique for applying gold to the outer surfaces of its glasses, leading to a variety of themed decorations including animals, holidays, and exotic motifs. The company’s product line expanded to include more than seventy-five patterns such as Seville, Antigua, and Mardi Gras, culminating in its peak popularity during the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1980, production shifted to New Jersey, and the focus gradually moved away from gold-decorated glassware. Culver Glass was later acquired by the Moderne Glass Company in 1996, continuing to produce barware in coordination with Fiestaware. Despite new designs and a reduction in scale, vintage Culver Glass pieces remain highly valued by collectors.