A study of the life and work of the West Virginia artist Virginia B. Evans (1894-1983). Evans was a painter and art educator as well as a designer of Upper Ohio Valley glass.

Bellaire grew to prominence in the early 19th century when rich deposits of coal and sand were discovered. Riverboat captain John Fink began mining and shipping coal in the 1830s. Later numerous glass factories earned Bellaire the nickname "Glass City." Industry grew rapidly, and the railroads brought tradesmen and immigrants. In addition to coal mines and glass factories, Bellaire has been home to an enamel works, a steel factory, lumberyards, brick makers, and bottling companies. Today Bellaire has two historical sites honoring its industry, but business is not the region's only claim to fame. Few remember that Bellaire had a water ballet team, the Aquabelles. Kathy Crumbley, the first female sheriff in the state of Ohio, is a Bellaire native, and the village is the birthplace of baseball legends William "Brickyard" Kennedy and Sol White. Theodore Roosevelt campaigned in the city park where, later, Bob Hope left his footprints in cement. Bellaire celebrates both the industry that built the village and the people who made it memorable.

Daring designers such as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Reneacute Lalique are remembered for their intricate pattern creations with glass that pushed the evolution of design. These entrancingly beautiful masterpieces of yesterday are commanding high prices in today's antiques and collectibles marketplace. Author John Shuman Ill gives art glass collectors the helpful advice they need - from bidding techniques at auctions and detecting fakes and frauds, to protecting valuable. With the aid of this identification and price guide they'll obtain a collection they can be proud to display. Valuable information and current market prices are included for Baccarat, Custard Glass, Durand Art Glass, Fairy Lamps, Kimball Glass, Lalique, Loetz, Tiffany, and much more. Readers will confidently identify collectible pieces with more than 300 color images, illustrations, and vintage advertisements. They'll peruse original advertisements from sale catalogues and marvel at the progression of some of the most highly sought after art glass pieces from popular manufactures.