Designer: Frank Gehry (b. 1929)

Item: Pair of Fish Goblets for The Architects’ Collection

Manufactured by: Desna Glass, and Amses Cosma Inc., for Swid Powell

Country of origin: Czechoslovakia and United States

Year made: 1990

Materials: Blown, cast and fused leaded crystal

Dimensions: 7 ¼” x 4” x 3 ¼”

Description: Gehry designed these goblets as part of a very high-end line of tableware for Swid Powell called The Architects’ Collection that was introduced in December 1990.  This collection commissioned designs from twelve architects, ten of which were already participating with Swid Powell.  Despite Gehry’s prior work with Swid Powell this was his debut with an object that was realized for actual production and sale.  The objects in The Architects’ Collection were produced in very limited editions. Most of the objects in the collection were made in editions of 20, but the Gehry goblets were in an edition of 250. It is unclear if the full edition numbers were ever actually produced, because they were made to order. And unlike the prior Swid Powell productions that were retailed in higher-end department stores, this collection was only sold through the Peter Joseph Gallery in New York City.

These goblets are a combination of hand blown, cast, and fused leaded glass.  The production of these goblets was a complicated endeavor involving two different manufacturers in two different countries.  The parts were hand blown and cast Bohemian glass made in Czechoslovakia that were then shipped to the United States where they were fused together by hand at a firm in Brooklyn, New York, effectively making each a unique piece.  We have seen a few and upon close inspection there are subtle variations in each due to the hand-finishing production.  According to the catalog issued for this collection, 250 sets of six were made, as is etched “Edition 250” on the bottom of each. It is our understanding that when issued, a set of six sold for $5,000. 

Examples of this design can be found in several important museum collections, such as the Yale University Art Gallery, which also has the original design drawings and models as donated by Nan Swid, and the Corning Museum of Glass.  Gehry’s original design sketch for this goblet, and the wood models are also in the permanent collection of the Yale University Art Gallery.  These are quite heavy and substantial objects, each weighing over one and half pounds.

Condition: Very good. One has a very small nick at the end of the tail as shown, the other has two tiny fleabites on the edge of the base. In our humble opinion both are forgivable and minor issues considering the limited number that were made and sold. Based on the condition we priced the pair accordingly.

References: Gordon, John Stuart, American Glass: The Collections at Yale (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2018), 288–89, no. 150; Corning Museum of Glass, Recent Important Acquisitions, New Glass Review 34 (2013): 110, ill.; Nesbitt, Lois E., Swid Powell; The Architects’ Collection , trade catalog (1990) pg. 13-14.