Meet us where modern miracles happen
The motto at the Higgins Glass studio is “modern miracles with everyday glass.” A visit to this sparkling space on Quincy Street will reveal exactly why that’s the case.
The artwork here is spectacular, and the method of creation is unique to this Riverside studio.
It all started in 1948 when Frances Stewart married Michael Higgins. The two met at the Chicago Institute of Design, and their attraction was immediate. The fusion of their love led to the rediscovery of the lost art of glass fusing.
It was a technique that was all but abandoned by the mid-century in favor of glass blowing, but when this innovative couple teamed up to fuse glass in their living room, the world of glass making changed forever.
The technique is described as a “glass sandwich” with an intricate design drawn or pieced together on enamel-coated glass and another piece of glass laid over the top. When the pieces of glass are heated, they fuse to create complex layers of beauty.
The tableware, lamps, and candleholders came to be called Higginsware and the sought-after creators were soon busy filling orders for major retailers like Marshall Field’s and Bullock’s Wilshire.
They moved their studio to Riverside in 1966 and brought on apprentice Louise Wimmer. Her son, Jonathan, spent much of his childhood at the studio and soon learned the craft himself.
Michael died in 1999 and Frances in 2004. Their handpicked successors, Louise and Jonathan, carry on the tradition of making modern fused-art creations.
You can visit the studio Monday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm.
There is also one very special day to put on your calendar. For 70 years the Higgins Glass has held a Holiday Open House on the first Friday evening of December.
Pieces range in variety and price, but there is something for every budget. You can find the perfect gift like a bowl or an ornament for $40. You can also look at the same pieces that collectors are coveting.
You’ll likely find Louise and Jonathan Wimmer fusing glass in the studio. Personally trained by the Higgins, they carry on the tradition.
Located at 33 E. Quincy Street, the studio is just a three-minute walk from the Riverside stop on the BNSF Railway.
