Art Nouveau Glass and Pottery: Selections from the Syracuse University Art November 10, 2002 to January 26, 2003. Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond Museums Art Nouveau, an international art movement that dominated the arts from the late nineteenth century to the first World War, was a decorative style distinguished by flowing lines and asymmetrical design inspired by the forms of nature - growing, sinuous, and graceful. Selected from the art collection of Syracuse University, New York, the exhibition features thirty-five glass and ceramic objects by some of the outstanding artists of the time. The vases, bowls, plates, lamps, and other decorative objects in the exhibition reveal the influence of nature's designs and organic forms that was elegantly explored during the Art Nouveau period. The work of European and American artists and factories represented includes such luminaries as the artists Frederick Carder, Émile Gallé, Jacques Sicard, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Max Ritter von Spaun, and their work for such companies as Daum Nancy (Nancy, France), Glasfabrik Johann Loetz Witwe (Klostermühle, Austria), Quezal Art Glass and Decorating Company (Brooklyn, New York), Steuben Glass Works (Corning, New York), Tiffany Studios (Corona, New York), and Weller Pottery (Zanesville, Ohio), among others.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Art Nouveau revived an interest in nature as a mysterious agent, conveying both awe, beauty, and fear. Although there were conflicting views upon the meaning of nature, Art Nouveau exemplified the simple, beautiful, and functional, and thereby, it signified modernity. Evolving from the English Arts and Crafts movement, many Art Nouveau artists were inspired by the nature writings of both John Ruskin and William Morris, among others. On view are some pieces that clearly convey the artists' desires to combine beauty and utility. For example, the 1918 glass vase shaped like a jack-in-the-pulpit plant shows how the Art Nouveau style abandoned straight lines in favor of asymmetrical and botanical forms for this useful decorative object. This particular piece, created by Frederick Carder (American, 1863-1963) for Steuben Glass Works (founded in 1903 in Corning, New York), is also of special interest in that it was made of an iridescent blue and gold colored glass, called "Aurene," that was a breakthrough for the Steuben company. Also on display is a Daum Nancy (founded in 1878 in Nancy, France) piece, titled Cameo Glass Bowl/Vase, created circa 1895. The Daum Nancy company looked to the cameo glass made by Art Nouveau artist Émile Gallé (French, 1846-1904) but created an innovative design by producing acid-etched cameo glass. This particular piece is an example of a mold-blown, acid-cut glass and is decorated with a green, yellow, and orange fern design. The exhibition includes eleven objects by Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933) created for Tiffany Studios, Corona, New York (1892-1928). The pieces range from a lamp made with Favrile glass and brass (circa 1892-93) to a punch bowl also made with Favrile glass and brass (circa 1909). Tiffany's development of "Favrile" glass, with its luxurious iridescence and nacreous surface, played an important role in the company's international success. The renowned work by Tiffany and Tiffany Studios clearly shows the Art Nouveau style's emphasis on and love of nature's forms. Organized by the Syracuse University Art Collection, New York, the exhibition was curated by David L. Prince, curator of the collection. At the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition is made possible in part with a grant from the University's Cultural Affairs Committee.