Treasures From the Vault: May 2020

Three green vases. Two tall, one a smaller bowl. All have white flowers on them.

We’ve all heard the saying “April showers bring May flowers.” It turns out there’s far more to the phrase than just a correlation between rain and plant life. The proverb is actually just one small part of a longer phrase that reads, “March winds and April showers bring May flowers and June bugs.”

The sentiment itself dates back to poetry and prose from hundreds of years ago, and while the truth of the statement cannot be found in all climates, the idea that May is a time for growth and renewal is one that truly resonates this spring.

In celebration of the season, the Forsyth Galleries is sharing four glass vases that date from the first part of the 20th century. They feature dazzling floral designs and motifs.
 
 

Tiffany Favrile Paperweight Bowl


The first is a bowl from Tiffany Furnaces made of clear hand-blown glass with purple morning glories and leaves at the neck and shoulder.

Tiffany used the term “Favrile” to describe a line of iridescent art glass, and some of the best examples of this line include substantial paperweight vases like this one. They were called “paperweight” vases because they were made using methods similar to those used to create the traditional heavy glass globes. One of these techniques, called millefiori, uses multiple colored glass rods that are fused and cut to create flower patterns, like the morning glories in this work.

Stourbridge Glass Company, Tiffany Furnaces, Bowl, 1893–1924, glass, Bill and Irma Runyon Art Collection, TAMU Permanent Collection.
 
 
 
 
 

Tiffany Intaglio-Cut Vase


Another Tiffany vase features intaglio-cut daffodils on an iridescent green ground.

If you’re familiar with the Forsyth glass collections, then you know we have wonderful examples of English cameo glass. Intaglio-cut glass looks similar, but is actually made using a different technique. Intaglio designs are cut into the surface of the glass, the exact opposite of cameo glass where the design is raised above the surface in relief.

Tiffany Furnaces, Vase, c. 1915, glass, Bill and Irma Runyon Art Collection, TAMU Permanent Collection.
 
 
 
 
 

Steuben Aurene Glass


Next, we have a piece of Frederick Carder’s popular Aurene glass made for Steuben Glass Works. It is similar to Tiffany’s Aurene glass and was inspired by the shimmering iridescence found on ancient Roman glass found in archaeological digs. While the Roman glass achieved its rainbow hues from being buried for centuries, Carder produced his by spraying glass pieces with various chemicals while they were being formed in the fire.

While most Aurene pieces featured no additional decoration, some pieces, like this one, have white or silver millefiori flowers with green leaf and vine designs.

Steuben Glass Works, Vase, c. 1910, glass, Bill and Irma Runyon Art Collection, TAMU Permanent Collection.
 
 

Steuben Intarsia Glass


Though the name Intarsia Glass was applied to various forms at the Steuben Glass Works, the most famous was developed in the 1920s and involved extraordinary designs where a layer of colored glass was delicately sandwiched between two layers of colorless glass. The colored layer was etched to form leaves and vine, flowers, or other decorations, like the black flowers found on this piece.

This glass was very difficult to make, and only one of the Steuben craftsmen was able to perfect the process. Very few pieces and less than seventy are known to exist.

Steuben Glass Works, Frederick Carder, Vase, c. 1929, glass, Bill and Irma Runyon Art Collection, TAMU Permanent Collection.

We hope you enjoy these wonderful works of glass and take some time to get out and enjoy the wonderful May flowers this spring.