Victor Durand
American
(France, 1870 - 1931)
Victor Durand Jr. was born in 1870 in Baccarat, France. His father, Victor Durand Sr. immigrated to Millville New Jersey in 1882; Victor Durand Jr. and his family joined him two years later. The Durands had been a glass making family for several generations and moved to Millville specifically because of its large glass industry. During Durand’s younger years, he intentionally worked for several different glasshouses in order to gain experience and expertise before joining his father to open the Vineland Flint Glassworks Company in 1897. He became the sole owner of the company in 1899. They produced many types of glassware from tableware to scientific glass. He always dreamed of having his own art glass division for the Vineland Plant, and due to the prudent financial management of his business, he was able to make this dream a reality in 1924. He had enough money set aside for this venture, which allowed the glassmakers to make use of their creativity independent of financial considerations. Durand produced some of America’s finest art glass during this time. He was known as a cheerful family man, a good businessman, and an honest person. On April 25th, 1931, he died in a car accident on his way home from a dental appointment. The art glass studio closed the same year and another company acquired the Durand’s glass legacy.
Amelia Hobson
Summer, 2013
American
(France, 1870 - 1931)
Victor Durand Jr. was born in 1870 in Baccarat, France. His father, Victor Durand Sr. immigrated to Millville New Jersey in 1882; Victor Durand Jr. and his family joined him two years later. The Durands had been a glass making family for several generations and moved to Millville specifically because of its large glass industry. During Durand’s younger years, he intentionally worked for several different glasshouses in order to gain experience and expertise before joining his father to open the Vineland Flint Glassworks Company in 1897. He became the sole owner of the company in 1899. They produced many types of glassware from tableware to scientific glass. He always dreamed of having his own art glass division for the Vineland Plant, and due to the prudent financial management of his business, he was able to make this dream a reality in 1924. He had enough money set aside for this venture, which allowed the glassmakers to make use of their creativity independent of financial considerations. Durand produced some of America’s finest art glass during this time. He was known as a cheerful family man, a good businessman, and an honest person. On April 25th, 1931, he died in a car accident on his way home from a dental appointment. The art glass studio closed the same year and another company acquired the Durand’s glass legacy.
Amelia Hobson
Summer, 2013
Artist Objects
