Dedham, MA – Grogan and Company Fine Art Auctioneers and Appraisers are pleased to announce the sale of the Jacob B. Noble Collection of Fine 20th century Art Glass and Modern Paintings, to be held on Saturday, May 21st at 2 p.m. The collection is comprised of over 150 pieces of mid century Art Glass, including examples by Daum, Venini, Seguso, Barovier & Toso and many other well known artisans.
Jacob Noble began his collection of art glass in the mid 1960’s, while working in the Textile industry and living on Long Island, New York. Noble frequented the many Modern and Contemporary Art Galleries of New York and Aventura, Florida throughout the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, acquiring Art Glass and Modern paintings and prints. In the 1970’s, he retired and moved with his family to the Berkshires, where he continued to indulge his love of glass by becoming a dealer under the name of Le Verre Noble. Noble, a charismatic outdoorsman, was also an avid art collector with a passion for abstraction, color and experimentation, all indicative of the Modernist period.
Highlights include several Italian Murano glass masters. A con macchia vase (blown glass with internal decoration), by Fulvio Bianconi, one of Venini’s most successful designers, exhibits the sensuality of the female form that Bianconi was known for. The circa 1950, 10 ½ inch amber glass vase with blue and black decorations is estimated at $15,000-20,000, while a rare Thomas Stearns vase, Cappello Ducalle, circa 1961, is estimated to bring $16,000-18,000. There are approximately only 30 known examples of works by Stearns, Venini’s only American designer and winner of the “best of show” at the Venice Bienalle of 1962. Paolo Venini’s 1953 Murrine vase is estimated to bring $5,000-7,000 and a rare Miorslav Hrstka Miros Tre Vase, circa 1968, is estimated at $15,000-20,000.
Several examples by Archimede Seguso, one of greatest glass designers of all time, will include an 11 inch maroon and clear Merletto vase, circa 1950, estimated at $2,000-4,000 and a Merletto bowl, circa 1952 is expected to bring $2,000-4,000. Seguso was most famous for his Merletto vases, using the ancient technique of filigrana. An Intarsia Vase, circa 1960, by Ercole Barovier, stands at 6 ¾ inches and is expected to bring $2,000-4,000. Ercole Barovier one of the most prolific of all Murano’s glass masters, was a descendent of the famous Barovier family who invented Crystalo in the 1450’s, the formula that all Murano glass is made from.
Other highlights include a large selection of Daum Glass from the Nouveau Pate de verre period, which began in 1965. Salvador Dali’s, Anti Fleur, circa 1970, a 15 inches sculpture, is numbered 8 out of 150 and is estimated at $3,000-5,000 and Guy Petifils Le Paon, pate de verre glass peacock, numbered 51 of 300, is estimated at $800-1,200.
Scandinavian glass includes an Orrefors Edvin Ohrstrom Ariel Vase No. 224, circa 1950, estimated at $2,000-3,000 and an Orrefors Sven Palmquist Ravenna Bowl, circa 1970, is estimated at $800-1,200. Other makers include Galle, Richard Ritter, William Morris, Copier for Leerdam, Leveille, Goupy, Auguste Jean, Mace and Kirkpatrick, Jean Sala and Edmont Enot, amongst others.
Grogan and Company is located at 22 Harris Street, in historic Dedham, Massachusetts. The auction exhibition opens on Thursday, May 19th; hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday, Friday; and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday. The auction will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. A fully illustrated catalogue can be found on-line at www.groganco.com. Contact the gallery at 781-461-9500 for inquiries or to receive a print catalogue.
