The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village


Dedicated to the preservation of art glass in the United States, the Museum of American Glass chronicles the history of American glass making from early Colonial times to the present-day art glass movement.

Housed in a building modeled after an early Cape May Victorian hotel, the museum collection includes glass from the 1739 Wistarburgh Glass Works, the first successful American glass factory.

On dispay are three hundred paperweights from the middle 19th century Millville Roses to the current flameworked paperweights. Another interesting display is a large collection of bottles; some used as everyday tableware and others are scientific glass.

Showcasing both functional and decorative pieces throughout history, visitors can see Victorian art glass, free-blown whimsies, pressed glass patterns, clear and colored cut glass and a splendid art nouveau glass collection. Some of the renowned glass studios represented are Mount Washington, Pairpoint, Durand, and Tiffany.

The museum's collection includes Early American glass, Bottle Room, South Jersey Glass, Paperweight Room, Cut Glass, Carnival Glass, and Contemporary Art Glass.

The current exhibit "American Glass: 1900-2000" runs from April 8, 2000 to October 22, 2000 and showcases over 100 industrial and decorative pieces and tells the story of American glass in this century.

The world's largest bottle, recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, is 7 feet, 8 inches tall and holds 188 gallons, found a home at this museum.

Surrounded by charming shops and smaller museums in Millvile's Wheaton Village, the glass museum holds over 7,500 objects from Mason jars to Tiffany showpieces. The eclectic display creates a kaleidoscope of color and shapes, illuminating the history of the art and the artists who created masterpieces in glass.

At the Stained Glass Studio, part of Wheaton Village complex, visitors can watch a demonstration by artist as they create treasures in glass. Another treat is The Gallery of American Craft featuring fine crafts and glass made by the Village's artists-in-residence.

http://www.wheatonvillage.org/museum/

The copyright of the article The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village in Art Museums is owned by Judith Stock. Permission to republish The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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