Most museums will not accept specialized collections like art glass unless the donors are also willing to underwrite or endow exhibition space for the collection. The late John & Barbara Olsen, who were founding members of Ennion Society at CMOG, wanted to donate their glass collection to the Saint Petersburg Museum, which was their home town. However, the museum would not accept the collection unless the Olsens also paid to build and endow the exhibit space. The end result was that I sold a portion of the collection on their behalf and the rest went to CMOG several years later.

CMOG exhibits a handful of the Olsen collection. The collection included a lot of Steuben but also a lot of Tiffany, English Cameo,Victorian Glass, Loetz, etc. They collected a great deal both Carder and Post-Carder Steuben. They had the finest example of 12″ Rouge Flambé (which I had sold to them). It was a 12″ double gourd Shape 6240 Vase.

Many years later I tried to repurchase the Rouge from Barbara on behalf of a client but she refused our offer.The Vase was Barbara’s favorite piece; she kept it in her home long after she donated the bulk of the collection to CMOG. CMOG has a similar Rouge vase which was donated by Otto Hilbert but the Olsen’s Vase has better color.

David Goldstein

A New Auction Is Coming

Submissions for consideration of the Carder Steuben and Corning Glass Auction are well under way!

This first-ever public auction will be held on Friday evening, September 20 in conjunction with the Carder Steuben Symposium in Corning NY.

The Club and Upstate Auction Company are accepting submissions for consignment from members and readers of the Gazelle Gazette until mid-May.

After that, we will be advertising to the general public for consignments.

No submissions will be accepted after July 15.

If you would like to have your items considered for this very exciting auction, please review the information on the Club’s website by clicking on the Auction Detail box at the end of this article.

Pictures, descriptions, and other required information can be sent to:

steubenglassauction@gmail.com