This guide gives a brief history as to how Tiara Exclusives Glassware connects with so many of the great American glassmakers. Indiana Glass Company, Fostoria, Fenton, Imperial, Lancaster Colony, Federal, LE Smith and Duncan Miller.

Tiara Exclusives began operation on July 1, 1970, in Dunkirk, Indiana. It was a spin off company of the longtime Indiana Glass Company which gave Tiara an edge in the glass industry. Tiara was started to capitalize on the growing popularity of party plan companies, such as Home Interiors, Tupperware and Mary Kay. Tiara's product focus was on decorative and tabelware items. Early catalogs mainly showcased dinnerware and beverage set items. Later on, Tiara expanded to include many novelties and accessory items. Later catalogs still marketed the company's bedrock, dinnerware lines, but they also included new items featuring candleholders, frames and figurines.

Tiara Exclusives was strictly a retail company, they did not manufacture any glass. Indiana Glass had the hand shops - handmade vs machine-pressed glass, they bought the molds and handmade the glass for the party plan industry. Tiara bought most of their product from Indiana Glass, who in turn bought molds from a variety of glass companies, such as Imperial, Federal, Fenton and Fostoria. Tiara warehoused, sold and shipped glass, but they did not manufacture glass.

Indiana Glass opened in 1896 as the Beatty Brady Glass Co and in 1908 became the Indiana Glass Company. Indiana Glass now owned by Lancaster Colony of Columbus Ohio. In 1983 Fostoria was acquired by Lancaster Colony and had many handmade items which Indiana Glass purchased for Tiara, including the Stagecoach mold. The Tiara Stagecoach is one of the Preferred Hostess items which was produced for associates only and was never sold to the public. The Pie Wagon was made from an Imperial mold, purchased by Indiana Glass Co.

Not all items sold by Tiara were made from other company's molds. When Tiara wanted something new, not from molds purchased from other companies, Tiara would just dip into Indiana Glass Company's archives. If Tiara found a shape which interested them, it appeared in the next Tiara catalog. Fenton Art Glass Company of Williamstown, West Virginia, also helped Tiara produce some glass items, like the Stagecoach in the Dusty Rose color. This was a good financial move for Fenton and it helped Tiara keep up with production.

Tiara reproduced Federal Glass Co's Colonial Candy Box and Cover. Tiara reproduced Fostoria molds such as the Madonna, Coronation Lamp and Vase and Water Bottles.

Tiara Exclusives closed in November 1998. Home Interiors & Gifts, a Texas direct sales company, purchased the rights to the Tiara name and now sells some of the dinnerware pieces.

Tiara Markings. Please see the guide I have written to indentify Tiara glassware.

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