Featuring Francis & Michael Higgins


On October 24th of 2008 I was fortunate to add the first examples of Higgins glass to my collection. Francis and Michael Higgins are among the many modernist craftspeople in the mid-twentieth century to be hand making housewares in the Midwest United States. Often the Midwest gets dismissed by collectors closer to the coasts as being devoid of any midcentury Modern interest ... or worse yet as simply being "quaint." The misconception can easily be refuted by pointing out artists such as the suburban Chicago-based Higgins Glass Studio, though, with their Midwestern ideals and frugality producing a truly sophisticated abd exciting Modern product right here in America's heartland.

Our Designer Directory

Below is a list of all the designers that have been discussed on Ars Longa over the years. This list is hardly a comprehensive resource of important mid-twentieth century designers, but names are added regularly as I find and attribute new objects. If you'd like to see a designer represented here, please tell me about them and I'll start looking for examples of their work.

If you would like to contribute information towards any of the designer biographies listen on this site — whether it is a link, a fact, a correction, a photo, or a fully written biography — please don't hesitate to let me know. Your help is always greatly appreciated.