Houston 24 Expo – American Antique Glass Masterpieces Exhibition Opening

Portrait of Oana Ruxandra & Sandor P. Fuss in the Brown Gallery foyer.

Preparing for the Houston 24 American Antique Glass Masterpieces ribbon-cutting event in the Brown Gallery of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Jeff Noordsy (left) and Sandor P. Fuss prepare to make the ceremonial cut of the Houston 2024 ribbon.

The ribbon is cut! The official start of the Houston 24 National Antique Bottle & Glass Expo.

Lining up for Houston 24 Expo registration and book purchases at the Brown Gallery at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Left to right: Jeff Scovil (photography), Sandor P. Fuss, Jeff Noordsy (AAGM consultant) and Ferdinand Meyer V (book designer and publisher not shown) at the Houston 24 book signing table. Jim Hagenbuch and Alicia Booth-Wickman on the right.

Sandor P. Fuss smiling at his new book signing “American Antique Glass Masterpieces – A major, museum exhibition showcasing the Sandor P. Fuss Collection.”

Sandor Fuss and Jeff Noordsy signing copies on American Antique Glass Masterpieces. Jeff Scovil (standing on the left) is signing both books as he was the photographer engaged by the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Richard Siri Sr., FOHBC Hall of Fame, talking with Houston 24 team member Bella Meyer at the exhibition opening.

Jeff Scovil (Phoenix, Arizona) book signing. Jeff was the museum specimen photographer for both exhibitions.

Get your Houston 24 Exhibition Books now! Pictured Rick Siri Jr. (left) and Brandon DeWolfe.

One of the entry areas into the Brown Gallery housing the “American Antique Glass Masterpieces” exhibition.

Interior of the Brown Gallery. Nine large supergraphics panels were mounted to columns and walls.

Another gallery shot of the interior of the Brown Gallery.

Through a display case, Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer, Houston 24 Expo chairs, and owners of Peachridge Collections who were engaged to produce the American Antique Glass Masterpieces exhibition and book. Photo by Andy Rapoza.

One of the centerpiece display cases in the Brown Gallery showing the legendary three blue bitters “Together Again.”

Brown Gallery opening of the “American Antique Glass Masterpieces” exhibition.

Example of one of the wall display cases. Each object meticulously selected and displayed in each case by Sandor P. Fuss.

Plate 96: Pattern Molded Decanter with Matching Stopper. Electric royal blue. 36 ribs. 9 ¾” H. New England, probably blown at either the Keene, Marlboro Street Glass Works, Keene, New Hampshire or the New England Glass Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ca. 1815 to 1825. Ex. George McKearin, Abraham and May, Peter Tillou and Jeff and Holly Noordsy Art and Antiques. The only reported example in a shade of blue.

Plate 21: J R & S Scroll Flask “J R. & S” Brilliant yellow-green.  John Robinson & Sons, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Half pint.  Tooled mouth and pontil scar. GIX-42. Ca. 1830-1834. Ex. Jack Whistance, Bob and Beka Mebane and Eric Schmetterling. This wonderful flask is another of the objects in the Fuss collection with eye-popping color.

Each object meticulously selected and displayed in each Brown Gallery display case by Sandor P. Fuss.

Plate 12: Whitlock Whiskey Bottle “Whitlock Whiskey New York.” Yellow olive with aquamarine rigaree B.M. & E. A. Whitlock & Co. Importers, New York Ca. 1860-1865 Ex. Larry Marshall, Don Keating and Gene Heisey. This wonderful bottle is among the most compelling objects in the collection.

One of the open-room freestanding display cases allowing 360 degree viewing.

Plate 38: Jenny Lind Glass Works Calabash Flask “Jenny Lind” and Bust – “Glass Work’s S. Huffsey” and Factory Portrait Calabash Flask Brilliant yellow green Probably Isabella Glass Works, New Brooklyn, New Jersey. Applied sloping collared mouth with ring, tubular pontil scar. Quart. GI-66. Ca. 1845-1860. Ex. Don Keating, Ed and Kathy Gray, Jeff and Holly Noordsy Art and Antiques, Norman C. Heckler. This bright and bubbly bottle was blown to celebrate Jenny Lind, known in the 19th century as “The Swedish Nightingale.”

Michael & Kathie Craig (left) gazing into a display case.

The Brown Gallery was an excellent volume of space to display the American Antique Glass Masterpieces exhibition.

A display case with remarkable specimens of form and color.

Plate 12: Pressed Glass Twisted Loop Vase with Gauffered Rim. Purple amethyst with an opalescent milk glass rim. 8” H. Blown at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Works, Sandwich, Massachusetts. Ca. 1850. Ex. Lowell/Lomas and Jeff and Holly Noordsy Art and Antiques. A likely unique object that was included in the “Sensational Sandwich” exhibition.

Coleen Shephard from Tampa, Florida.

Resting in the Brown Gallery foyer.

Sandor Fuss (left) and Jim Oliveira.

“The Three Kings.” Left to right: “Jared Spencer Decorative Flask, Medallions & Diamond Diapering Decorative Flask and Beads & Pearls Decorative Flask. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

An incredible grouping of Historical Flasks with a Capital Bitters in the center.

Plate 26: Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters Figural Viola. “Cassin,s (sic) Grape Brandy Bitters” Medium blue green Francis and Patrick Cassin San Francisco, California. Ca. mid 1860s. C 78. Ex. Ken Fee Perfect. Beautiful form and glass color. Only one other example of a blue-aqua Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters was known until American Bottle Auctions sold this example in November 2019. The previous example had a crack and a satin finish. Example on loan from the Stephen Hubbell collection.

Don Keating and FOHBC president Michael Seeliger posing in front of “The Three Blue Bitters–Together Again” display case. Don was one of the very few who once owned all three figural bitters.

Richard Siri Sr. and Michael Seeliger in front of one of the wall display cases in the Brown Gallery.

Plate 16: “Success To The Railroad” and Locomotive Historical Flask. Brilliant Prussian blue. Lancaster Glass Works, Lancaster, New York. Ca. 1830-1850. Sheared mouth, pontil scar. Pint. GV-1. Ex. William Ketcham, Bob Simmons and Eric Schmetterling. It is likely that this is the only extant example of a Lancaster railroad flask blown in this beautiful shade of blue.

Plate 141: Ornate Liquor Bottle Chicago, Illinois (Mortar and Pestle) “L S & CO” (monogram) “CHICAGO, ILL” – (Griffin) (Front view of the Sphinx) (Human-Headed Lion). The neck is in the form of an Egyptian Obelisk and is covered with hieroglyphics as are the other areas of the bottle. Yellow amber 12 ¼” H. Smooth base, applied double-collar mouth. Ca. 1883-1885 Unlisted.