About A. H. Heisey

Augustus H. Heisey  is considered the Creator of  America’s Most Beautiful Hand-Made Glass.

Heisey was born in Germany in the year 1842. In 1843, the family moved to the United States where he went to school in Pennsylvania. Heisey’s first job, after leaving school, was in the printing business.

In 1862, Heisey enlisted and fought with the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. In 1865, Heisey left the army and began working for Ripley and Company of Pittsburgh. Later, in 1870, Heisey married Susan Duncan, the daughter of George Duncan, owner of Ripley Glass Company. Heisey became part owner of the company when George Duncan renamed Ripley Glass Company as George Duncan & Sons.

In 1895, Heisey and his family moved to Newark, Ohio where he opened a factory in 1896. The first five years, the glass was made with no signature. In 1902, they began marking the bottom or the inside bottom of the glass with the Diamond H until 1957. Heisey’s slogan was "America’s Most Beautiful Hand-Made Glass."

Mr. Heisey died in 1922 and the business was run by his two sons until they stopped production in 1957 at which time it was purchased by The Imperial Glass Company. Imperial Glass Company, made certain Heisey pieces , using the Heisey signature, Diamond H, for six years, then started to use their own mark. In 1984, Imperial Glass Company went bankrupt and Heisey Collectors of America bought the molds of Heisey and Imperial, catalogs, production records, drawings, etc.

One of the most highly sought after collectibles today is Heisey glassware. There are many patterns such as: Crystolite, Empress, Greek Key, Lariat, and New Era which are only some of many of Heisey’s patterns.

The National Heisey Glass Museum in Newark has on display examples of Heisey glass in all the colors that were made. The Museum is open year-round. The address is 169 W. Church St., Newark, OH 43055, phone (740) 345-2932