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Murano

Murano holds majority in Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ art glass sale Sept. 10

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Murano
Italian art glass, height: 13 in. Estimate: $200-400. Turner Auctions + Appraisals image

 

SO. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Turner Auctions + Appraisals will present the Martin and Lee Rubin Collection of Art Glass on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time. Important pieces from the collection were initially offered recently at Bonhams, where a number of works realized tens of thousands of dollars. Now Turner Auctions + Appraisals is featuring over 115 lots of this extensive collection, which includes sculpture, vases, bowls and figurines. Several other art glass works, including R. Lalique and Daum, are also included in this sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Amassed over 40 years, the Rubin Collection focuses on Italian art glass, with some American examples as well. Martin Rubin began his collection by buying small glass artworks from galleries near his home in Athens, Ohio. An academic and lecturer in philosophy at Ohio University, Rubin later started a small record store on campus, the Audio Buff Company, which grew to become a nationwide distributor to music libraries.

 

Murano
Italian art glass, longest example length: 20 inches. Estimate: $500-700. Turner Auctions + Appraisals image

 

His wife Lee, who shared his collecting passion, worked in health and human services in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where she is listed in the state’s Hall of Fame.

 

Murano
Italian art glass, longest diameter: 15 inches. Estimate: $300-500. Turner Auctions + Appraisals image

 

Building their collection together, they made several trips to Murano, Italy; became acquainted with gallery owners in the U.S. and around the world; and made friends with the glassmakers themselves – and famed glassblower Lino Tagliapietra, in particular. As a result, according to their son David Rubin, their colorful home in Arizona was like a museum, filled with hundreds of art glass works, sculpture and paintings.

 

Murano
Italian art glass, height: 13 in. Estimate: $200-400. Turner Auctions + Appraisals image

 

For details contact Turner Auctions + Appraisals at 415-964-5250.

 

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