There is a particular kind of Australian design confidence that emerged in the late 1960s — a willingness to take the functional object seriously, to invest in form as well as utility, and to produce things that were genuinely beautiful rather than merely adequate. Crown Corning was at the centre of that moment. Their stemware and barware, designed by some of Australia's most accomplished industrial designers, brought a space-age modernism to the Australian dinner table at a time when the country was beginning to develop a genuine design identity of its own.
The Company
Crown Corning was established as a joint venture between Australian Glass Manufacturers (AGM) — the parent company of Crown Crystal Glass — and the American Corning Glass Works, one of the world's leading glass technology companies. The partnership brought Corning's advanced glass science and manufacturing expertise together with AGM's established Australian production infrastructure, creating a company capable of producing high-quality glassware at a scale and standard that had not previously been achievable in Australia.
The factory was based in Waterloo, Sydney — the same industrial heartland that had been home to Crown Crystal Glass for decades — and produced a range of domestic glassware through the late 1960s and into the 1970s. Crown Corning's output was positioned at the quality end of the Australian market: well-designed, well-made, and priced to reflect that.
Edward Kayser and the Regis Line
The most celebrated product of the Crown Corning era is the Regis stemware line, designed by Edward Kayser. Kayser was one of Australia's most significant industrial designers of the post-war period, and the Regis line represents his most enduring contribution to Australian design history.
The Regis design is immediately recognisable by its signature bubble stem — a solid, weighted glass base enclosing a perfectly centred, controlled air bubble. The bubble is not a flaw or an accident; it is a deliberate design feature, achieved through a precise manufacturing process that traps air within the molten glass as the stem is formed. The result is a stem that is both visually striking and functionally sound — the weighted base acts as a ballast, keeping the glass stable on the table.
The Regis line was produced in multiple sizes — from small 70ml port and liqueur glasses through to larger wine and water glasses — and in both clear and coloured glass. The clear Regis pieces have a particular elegance: the bubble stem reads as a design statement without competing with the colour of the wine or spirit inside. The coloured versions, produced in a range of mid-century hues, are among the most collectible examples of Australian glass design from the period.
The Australian Context
Crown Corning's production years — roughly 1969 through the mid-1970s — coincided with a significant moment in Australian social history. The 1970s were the decade when Australian wine culture began its transformation from a fortified wine tradition (port, sherry, muscat) toward the table wine culture that defines the country today. A set of Regis port glasses from this period is not just a design object; it is a piece of social history, a snapshot of the Australian dinner table at the moment of transition.
Crown Corning pieces are also significant as examples of the broader Australian glass manufacturing tradition. The AGM group — encompassing Crown Crystal, Crown Corning, and related brands — was the backbone of Australian domestic glass production for much of the twentieth century, and their output represents a specifically Australian contribution to mid-century design that is only now receiving the serious collector attention it deserves.
Collecting Crown Corning Today
Crown Corning pieces, and Regis stemware in particular, are increasingly sought after by collectors of Australian mid-century design. Complete sets in original packaging — New Old Stock — are rare and carry a significant premium. Individual pieces in excellent condition are more commonly found but still represent genuine quality.
When assessing Crown Corning glass, look for clarity and brilliance in the glass itself — there should be no clouding, glass sickness, or dishwasher hazing. On Regis pieces, check that the bubble is perfectly centred within the stem; off-centre bubbles indicate a manufacturing variation rather than a defect, but centred examples are more desirable. Examine rims carefully for chips and flea bites, which are the most common form of damage on stemware that has been in active use.
At Jacqui Fink, every Crown Corning piece we list has been assessed for glass quality, condition, and honest provenance. These are objects made with genuine design intent — and they deserve to be appreciated as such.