The archive - related to the history of Tiffany Studios - is one of two major purchases made last year by the museum. The other is linked to the glassmaker Lalique. Both are now housed at the Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Research Library at the specialist glass museum.
In June 2004, the museum purchased at auction at Christie's a collection of materials belonging to Arthur J. and Leslie H. Nash, relating to their work as master glassmakers for Tiffany Studios in Corona, NY, in the early 1900s. The hammer price was $32,000.
Arthur Nash developed the unique formula for Tiffany's trademark Favrile glass. The collection includes notebooks and journals containing the recipe, which was never shared with anyone, including Louis Comfort Tiffany himself. The recipe is in code, and among the documents is Nash's 'key' to deciphering the code.
In addition, the archive contains never-before published letters and handwritten notes that provide insights into the complex behind-the-scenes relationship of the Nashes with Louis Comfort Tiffany.
"The Nash archive provides a precious insight into the manufacture of Tiffany's innovative glass," said Dr David Whitehouse, the museum's director. "The Nashes' formulas take their place alongside other 19th and 20th century glassmakers' recipe books in the Museum's Rakow Library."
In November 2004, the museum purchased a large archive of Lalique materials, including a portion of the private archives of Mary Lou and Glenn Utt, two of the world's leading collectors of Lalique glass and related documents, and authors of the book Lalique Perfume Bottles. Among the collection are hundreds of photographs, many unpublished, and rare documentary material relating to the history of Lalique's famous designs for the fragrance industry.
Microfilms of the Nash collection are now available to the public either at The Rakow Library or through interlibrary loan (contact ill@cmog.org). Parts of the Utt archive may be viewed on site by appointment. Call (607) 974-8649 or e-mail rakow@cmog.org for more details.
