A blue flask from Catalonia, Spain, circa 18th century, and a white-and-gold covered vessel from Austria are both shown in the "Beyond Venice" exhibit, on view through Oct. 17, 2004. Vessel courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

Also in the "Beyond Venice" exhibit, this 17th-century dragon-stem goblet exemplifies the craftsmanship of Venetian glassmaking.

"The Tree of Life," part of the museum's permanent collection, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most recognized stained-glass designs.


The Corning Museum's vast permanent collection includes this agate vase with silver mount by Louis Comfort Tiffany, dated 1893.

"Look but don't touch" should be the motto of The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Instead, the museum not only offers visitors the opportunity to view more than 40,000 glass objets d'art, but also provides a forum for "hands-on" experiences in the fine art of glassmaking.
Established in 1951 as an independent, nonprofit educational institution, The Corning Museum of Glass is dedicated to the art, research, history and exhibition of glass and glassmaking. In 2001, it underwent a $60 million renovation and expansion in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Today, the museum houses the most comprehensive and celebrated collection of art glass in the country.

Once inside, the "Glass Collection Galleries" trace the development of glassmaking in chronological order. From glass furniture, beadwork and mosaics to a glass portrait of a Pharaoh and even a glass slipper, the pieces in these galleries span 3,500 years of history. The tour begins in the Ancient and Islamic Galleries, moves to The European Collection Gallery, and then onto the American Glass Gallery and the Crystal City Gallery. Next comes the Modern Glass and Glass after 1960 Gallery followed by the Asian Glass and Paperweights of the World Gallery. Lastly, the New Study Gallery highlights thousands of glass objects from every area of the museum's permanent collection.

Outside of the "Glass Collection," several separate galleries have a more single-minded focus. The Carder Gallery concentrates on one of the most influential glass designers of our time, Frederick Carder. And the Sculpture Gallery showcases striking contemporary studio glass by such world-renowned artists as Dale Chihuly, Harvey Littleton, Paul Stankard, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova.
In addition to the Corning's vast permanent collection, traveling shows make their mark throughout the year. This fall, Italy takes center stage at the museum with two shows devoted to the influence of Venetian artisans on glassmaking through the ages.

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