The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 2008
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The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 2008 CM G The Corning Museum of Glass Corning, New York 14830-2253 Cover: Officers The Fellows of The Corning The Fellows of The Corning Museum of Glass Museum of Glass are among Islamic-style vase James B. Flaws the world’s leading glass col- with three jinn (genies), Chairman of the Board Carole Allaire lectors, scholars, dealers, and blown, stained, enam- glassmakers. The objectives E. Marie McKee Gary E. Baker eled. France, Nancy, Renée E. Belfer of this organization are (1) President to disseminate knowl edge Cristallerie Emile Robert A. Belfer Gallé, Emile Gallé Amory Houghton Jr. about the history and art of Mike Belkin glassmaking and (2) to sup- (French, 1846–1904), Vice President William W. Boeschenstein* about 1890. H. 30 cm port the acquisitions program James R. Houghton Alan L. Cameros (2008.3.36). of the Museum’s Rakow Vice President Lt. Gen. Christian Clausen, retired Research Library. Admission Kenneth C. Depew to the fellowship is intended Denise A. Hauselt Thomas P. Dimitroff to recognize accomplishment, Secretary Jay R. Doros and is by invitation. Mark S. Rogus David Dowler Treasurer Max Erlacher Robert J. Grassi Christopher T. G. Fish Assistant Treasurer Barbara U. Giesicke William Gudenrath David B. Whitehouse Jirˇí Harcuba+ Executive Director Douglas Heller A. C. Hubbard Jr. Trustees Lawrence Jessen Kenneth L. Jobe + Roger G. Ackerman* Dorothy-Lee Jones Peter S. Aldridge Olive Jones + Thomas S. Buechner Leo Kaplan Van C. Campbell* Helena Koenigsmarková + Dale Chihuly Michael Kovacek Patricia T. Dann Dwight P. Lanmon + Robert Duke Harvey K. Littleton James B. Flaws Louise Luther John P. Fox Jr. Kenneth W. Lyon Polly W. Guth Josef Marcolin Ben W. Heineman* Gregory A. Merkel Amory Houghton Jr. Kirk J. Nelson + Arthur A. Houghton III Barbara H. Olsen James D. Houghton Jutta-Annette Page James R. Houghton Elmerina L. Parkman Thomas C. MacAvoy* Paul D. Parkman E. Marie McKee Paul N. Perrot + Carl H. Pforzheimer III John V. B. Perry Carlos A. Picón Joan P. Randles Helmut Ricke Richard F. Randles Mark S. Rogus Peter Rath Charles A. Ryskamp* Rachel Russell Antony E. Snow Prof. Dr. Axel von Saldern + Peter F. Volanakis Josh Simpson Wendell P. Weeks John P. Smith Ian McKibbin White Jean Sosin David B. Whitehouse Photo Credits Walter Spiegl + Paul J. Stankard All of the photographs in * Trustee Emeritus this Annual Report are by Prof. Dr. Rudolf von Strasser The Corning Museum of Glass Lino Tagliapietra (Nicholas L. Wil liams, Andrew M. Dena Tarshis Fortune, and Allison S. Lavine), Catherine M. V. Thuro-Gripton with the following exceptions: Kenneth R. Treis Page 14: M. Cresci. Deborah Truitt Lauriston Ward Page 21: Robert C. Florian. David Watts Pages 4 (bottom), 5, 27, 32, 33, Eric Martin Wunsch and 34: Maria Strinni Gill. Rainer Zietz Maris Zuika Page 36: Michael Smith. Page 37: Carl Saytor (top); provided *Life Fellow by Celebrity Cruises (bottom). +Honorary Fellow The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 2008 An educational institution dedicated to the history, art, and science of glass Chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York April 27, 1951 (6026) Accredited by the American Association of Museums 1973, 1986, 1999 It was an exciting year at the Museum. We of just three other ewers of this type. Later Executive accomplished our goals in both collecting and acquisitions included an early 17th-century Director’s preserving, which constitute our core respon- wineglass that was made in Venice or, more sibilities. The glass collection and the holdings probably, the Low Countries. It is engraved Report of the Rakow Research Library were enhanced with a leaf scroll under the rim and other by notable acquisitions, while work proceed - ornament near the bottom of the bowl; pre- ed on digitizing paper-based and audiovisual sumably, the plain midsection was intended materials in the Library. At the same time, we to receive an inscription or coat of arms. An completed plans to expand the Conservation unexpected addition to the collection was a Department. Another core activity is telling spittoonlike vessel made in London at the diverse audiences about the art and history of Savoy glasshouse of George Ravenscroft be- Navajo Blanket Cylinder, glass. Here, too, programs grew, and we ex- tween about 1676 and 1679. The object ap- blown, applied thread tended our outreach on land, on the Internet, peared in a London salesroom, misidentified drawings. U.S., Provi- and at sea. as Indian and of the 18th century. The design dence, RI, Dale Chihuly for the glass and silver decanter set by Chris- (American, b. 1941) *** with the assistance of topher Dresser was registered in 1881, and Flora Mace (American, Numerous donations and purchases enriched the hallmarks on the silver indicate that the b. 1949), 1976. H. 28 the glass collection in 2008. The most interest- mounts were made in London in 1882. cm (2008.4.28). Gift of ing medieval Islamic object was a circular me- Among the additions to the American col- Heinz K. and Elizabeth H. dallion decorated in relief with a fantastic lection were fine examples of late 19th- and Wolf in honor of Dale animal, which may have decorated a window early 20th-century Art Glass donated by our Chihuly. in Central Asia in the 12th or 13th century. Fellow Barbara Olsen. We also acquired an Group of Tanagra-style The acquisitions of European glass extended important group of 45 glasses made by the female figures, pâte de from a Renaissance façon de Venise ewer to a Union Glass Company of Somerville, Mas- verre. France, Jeumont, set of drinking glasses designed by Christopher sachusetts, which we purchased from the Georges Despret (French, Dresser. The ewer was made in Catalonia, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. 1862–1952), about 1900– 1910. H. (largest) 24.4 Spain, between about 1475 and 1550. It was Other acquisitions included a pair of whale cm (2008.3.50, .57, .51, blown from two gathers, and it has pattern- oil lamps made between 1830 and 1840 and .54, .49). molded and applied decoration. We are aware attributed to the Bakewell company in Pitts- 2 Spittoonlike vessel, mold-blown; applied seal. England, London, Savoy glasshouse of George Ravenscroft, about 1676–1679. D. 27.5 cm (2008.2.12). burgh; a lily-pad pitcher from the Marlboro Glass in Tacoma, Washington, we funded the Street Glass Works in Keene, New Hampshire; digitization of films that document leaders of and a pair of pressed green glass vases made the Studio Glass movement at the beginning at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company of their careers. Meanwhile, Nicholas Dawes or the New England Glass Company in the donated his encyclopedic collection of images 1840s or 1850s. of works by René Lalique. The long list of acquisitions of modern The Library also acquired two unique paper- glass begins with an important gift from the based collections. The Museum of London Bullseye Glass Com pany: Dale Chihuly’s transferred ownership of some 5,000 20th- Erbium Chandelier of 1993, and a gift in century drawings and cartoons for stained honor of Chihuly by Heinz and Elizabeth glass windows manufactured by the White- Wolf: a Navajo Blanket Cylinder that the friars glassworks in London. In addition to artist made in 1976. We were delighted to documenting windows in churches all over acquire a group of pâte de verre figurines and the world, the drawings reflect changes in the other objects made by, or asso ciated with, the development of stained glass over a period of French glass manufacturer Georges Despret be- almost 80 years. tween about 1900 and 1910. Other objects of The second major collection was acquired similar date included an extraordinary Islamic- with money from the Norma Jenkins Fund and style vase designed by Emile Gallé about 1890 the Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Library and a cased and mold-blown vase made by Endowment Fund. It consists of the first half Daum Frères about 1908. of the archives of the National Association of Manufacturers of Pressed and Blown Glass. *** This association, which was formed in 1893, The Rakow Research Library not only united manufacturers in their negotiations made important acquisitions of paper-based with the American Flint Glass Workers Union. materials but also added more than 11,000 These archives are a mine of information for files to our digital library. Artists Marvin students of early 20th-century American social Lipofsky and Paul Stankard began working and economic history. with us to create collections of digital images Thanks to the generosity of Jay and Micki documenting their life’s work. Together with Doros, the Library acquired a rare pamphlet, Pilchuck Glass School, the Art Alliance for The American Art of Glass, by John La Farge. Contemporary Glass, and the Museum of Other notable acquisitions include five original 3 drawings for figural sculptures made by Fulvio “Reflecting Antiquity” was produced jointly Bianconi between 1947 and 1949, a pattern with The J. Paul Getty Museum. It explored book from the firm of Vetri Soffiati Muranesi some of the ways in which modern (mostly Venini & C., and Album d’appareils à gaz 19th-century) glassmakers were inspired by Top: ancienne, a catalog of 232 lighting devices the glass of ancient Rome. Approximately Entrance to the published around 1850 by Melon and Lecoq half of the 114 objects were Roman originals, “Re flect ing Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired in Paris. including the Lycurgus Cup from The British Museum, the Portland Vase base disk, and the by Ancient Rome” *** exhibition. Daruvar cage cup from the Kunsthistorisches In 2008, the Museum mounted three tem- Museum in Vienna, Austria.