AFA 20th Anniversary

Antiques & Fine Art 133 2020 U nexpected Color: A Journey Through Glass showcases the Thomas N. Armstrong III Collection of Steuben Glass, a recent gift to The Newark Museum of Art in Newark, New Jersey. Many people are familiar with the clear crystal stemware, vases, and figurines that Steuben Glass, Inc., produced from 1933 until closing in 2011. 1 Many may not know that the company originally produced iridescent and brightly colored art glass (Fig. 1). The exhibition explores this early chapter in S t e ub e n’s h i s t o r y by r e v i s i t i n g t he experimentation and artistry of two visionaries who created and celebrated this vivid glass. Frederick Carder (1863–1963) designed these vibrant works between 1903 and 1933 and Thomas N. Armstrong III (1932–2011) collected and displayed glass in his personal collection in a variety of settings during the 1990s and 2000s. Carder’s colorful Steuben creations have not been produced since the 1930 s. A rms t rong’s i nnovat ive v i sion dramatically expands our understanding of how this glass can be seen and contemplated, in ways that unexpectedly transcend the original era, style, and function of these brilliantly hued creations. Beginning in 1880, Carder trained and worked as a designer at Stevens & Williams in the glassmaking center of Stourbridge, England. He studied Greek, Roman, Venetian, and Asian glass and ceramics in English museums, translating them into new designs throughout his career. He was a voracious scholar of traditional glassmaking techniques and the latest technological and stylistic innovations (Fig. 2). In 1903, Carder came to the United States where he cofounded Steuben Glass Works with Thomas G. Hawkes (1846–1913). For his part, Thomas N. Armstrong III studied art history and architecture at Cornell University and museum administration at the New York University Institute of Fine Arts, graduating in 1954 and 1967, respectively. He ser ved a s director of severa l American mu seums, i nclud i ng t he Penns ylvan ia Academy of the Fine Arts, the Whitney Fig. 2: Carder’s interest in Art Nouveau design is evident in this group. L to R: Gold Aurene vase, ca. 1905, engraved “Aurene 158,” iridized handblown glass (2018.20.6). Gold Aurene vase, ca. 1904–05, engraved “Aurene 130,” iridized handblown glass (2018.20.66). Gold Aurene vase with pulled-feather decoration, ca. 1910, engraved “Aurene 649,” iridized handblown glass (2018.20.64). Fig. 3: Armstrong New York City apartment with Steuben glass, John James Audubon prints, and antique furniture, 2017. Photograph by Joshua McHugh (before gift to The Newark Museum of Art).