Georgia Fenton Glass Collectors
Dave Fetty
Joan and Bill Rhodes, Ray and I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dave and Ada Kay Fetty. For all of you that love glass,
you can imagine how special an event this would be! We had a chance to ask Dave many of questions, and we learned a lot we
didn't know about this great Fenton glass master.
Dave was born and raised in Milton, West Virginia. He and Ada Kay went to school together and were married at the age of 17.
Dave said at that time he was working at a gas station. (Many of us can remember gas stations used to have employees and
were full-service!)
At the age of 19 he went to work for Blenko Glass Company. He began there carrying glass. At Blenko, Dave learned many of the
skills he would later need to make the wonderful off-hand glass he's come to be known for. We also learned from him that
'off-hand' glass is the term used to describe pieces made without moulds.
Over the next several years he would work for Kanawa Glass, Lancaster Glass (Sloan), Imperial Glass and finally Fenton.
Dave told us about the first day he went to Fenton: in 1964, when he first pulled up out front, he said to himself, "this would be a
nice place to retire from." Thirty-Five years later, in 1999, Dave retired. I've never really understood this because he is 'retired', but
he's always at work! To me, some of his best glass has been made since his retirement.
In the mid-1970s, Dave worked with glass artisan Robert Barber, helping to design and create some of Fenton's first limited
edition pieces. In 1998, Dave taught a "pulled feather" technique to other glassworkers, and he supervised them as they
produced this vase for the 1998 Connoisseur Collection.
According to Dave, the phrase "off hand" really means working "by hand," as the glass artisans create various effects by shaping
molten glass and applying threads or bits of glass in contrasting colors. Dave may use a mould to bring the piece to its final
shape, but all the decorative effects-- colored frit, hanging hearts, pulled feathers, handles, ringing, threading, etc.are done strictly
by hand.
We asked Dave about his favorite colors. He said he likes ruby and black and blue,-evidently whichever color he's working with at
the time! When asked what is his favorite style, he said Hanging Hearts.
Working around glass all these years there has to have been an accident or two. Dave said not really. Of course, he's been cut a
few times and dropped pieces. There was a scare one time: Joan Rhodes remembers once Bill and she were at the Fenton Gift
Shop when someone announced that Dave Fetty had been hit by a car. It turns out he was leaving the plant and a lady was
making a turn out front. She had a very large plant in the front seat of the car, so she did not see him. Dave said he thought she
was slowing down to make the turn and saw him. Little did he know she was about to make herself famous: she hit him! He
was bruised and had scratches, but luckily for all of us who collect his works of art that was the extent of the damage.
It was a real privilege to have a chance to talk to Dave, and to learn more about this great glass artisan. We look forward to
seeing what new and spectacular creations he will create in his upcoming years of 'retirement'!
Below are a few pictures of recent Fetty pieces.
Georgia Fenton Glass Collectors
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