Swiss collector presents unique Murano glass collection
Systematic collecting has been in Peter Grünbaum's blood for decades. For the past 20 years, his passion has focused primarily on Murano glass. The result is one of the largest collections of this exclusive symbiosis of glass, design, and art.
What Champagne is to the world of sparkling wine, Murano is to glassmaking in the eyes of many glass enthusiasts. Since the 13th century, this archipelago in the Venetian Lagoon has been the origin and namesake of glass objects whose unique characteristics of brightness, lightness, reflectivity, and brilliant color have achieved immortal world fame, captivating enthusiasts and collectors around the globe and repeatedly impressing them with record prices.
One of the world's largest collections of glass and design, including numerous glass rarities and select Murano glass objects, is owned by the Swiss Peter Grünbaum. Now 73 years old, a self-described "pathological collector," he spent almost 30 successful years working in marketing before retiring from the industry, the last 17 as the owner of several agencies. In January 2005, Grünbaum handed over the business entirely to his then junior partner in order to turn his passion for glass, design, and art into his calling.
Even before building his collection, which now comprises around 6,000 objects, Grünbaum was a successful collector. After collecting classics such as stamps and coins, Grünbaum had already garnered some public attention in the 1970s and 1980s as a collector of toy robots. However, it was precisely this public interest in what he considered to be rather annoying, rather "macho" exhibits, that led Grünbaum to decide in the 1980s to sell the approximately 1,200 objects from what was now one of the world's largest collections to the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein.
Grünbaum quickly began to fill the resulting factual and emotional void once again. This time, the objects of desire included furniture and lighting designs inspired by Italian design, as well as a large amount of Murano glass. Even though his renewed passion for collecting covered a very broad spectrum with Swatch watches, specialist books, Pirelli calendars and a number of other “focuses”, it quickly became apparent that the sight of the unique Murano glass, in Grünbaum’s own words “light in solid form”, in particular gave him the feeling of happiness that motivates collectors to their impressive peak performances.
In the first few years, Grünbaum made his growing collection accessible to an interested public. However, after a while, this interest proved increasingly tedious and time-consuming on two floors of a gallery in Zurich. Grünbaum had already begun not only collecting objects, but also selling them and providing competent advice to other collectors – and this was not very productive. Moreover, the then 65-year-old had already set himself new, ambitious goals that would require more time. Learning to play the piano was just one of many.
Today, Grünbaum owns one of the best Murano glass collections, devotes himself intensively to the subject in regular publications and events, and is a sought-after contact person. The collection is notable not only for its impressive scope but also for its diversity. It includes vases from various Murano glass styles, including the famous vases by Carlo Scarpa from the 1940s, Tomaso Buzzi, a rare "Coppa delle Mani" (Coppa delle Mani), model no. 3416, several "Dama vases" by Paolo Venini, several "a macchie" vases by Fulvoo Bianconi, and rarities by Barovier & Toso, Dino Martnes, Napoleone Martinuzzi, Thomas Sterans, and Yoichi Ohira.
Grünbaum now organizes the sale of selected objects primarily through his own online shop at 1000-objekte.ch . He emphasizes the obvious advantages of online purchasing for collectors and interested parties: "True rarities are rarely found on the open market these days, and flea market finds at bargain prices have become more of a myth thanks to the internet," Grünbaum reports from his experience. "Auctions, on the other hand, often quickly become very expensive for emotionally driven collectors. Therefore, the online shop is the better choice for rationally minded customers and still offers many truly unique objects."
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Rare Murano Glass
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One of the world's largest collections of glass and design, including numerous glass rarities and select Murano glass objects, is owned by the Swiss Peter Grünbaum. Now 73 years old, a self-described "pathological collector," he spent almost 30 successful years working in marketing before retiring from the industry, the last 17 as the owner of several agencies. In January 2005, Grünbaum handed over the business entirely to his then junior partner in order to turn his passion for glass, design, and art into his calling.
Even before building his collection, which now comprises around 6,000 objects, Grünbaum was a successful collector. After collecting classics such as stamps and coins, Grünbaum had already garnered some public attention in the 1970s and 1980s as a collector of toy robots. However, it was precisely this public interest in what he considered to be rather annoying, rather "macho" exhibits, that led Grünbaum to decide in the 1980s to sell the approximately 1,200 objects from what was now one of the world's largest collections to the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein.
Grünbaum quickly began to fill the resulting factual and emotional void once again. This time, the objects of desire included furniture and lighting designs inspired by Italian design, as well as a large amount of Murano glass. Even though his renewed passion for collecting covered a very broad spectrum with Swatch watches, specialist books, Pirelli calendars and a number of other “focuses”, it quickly became apparent that the sight of the unique Murano glass, in Grünbaum’s own words “light in solid form”, in particular gave him the feeling of happiness that motivates collectors to their impressive peak performances.
In the first few years, Grünbaum made his growing collection accessible to an interested public. However, after a while, this interest proved increasingly tedious and time-consuming on two floors of a gallery in Zurich. Grünbaum had already begun not only collecting objects, but also selling them and providing competent advice to other collectors – and this was not very productive. Moreover, the then 65-year-old had already set himself new, ambitious goals that would require more time. Learning to play the piano was just one of many.
Today, Grünbaum owns one of the best Murano glass collections, devotes himself intensively to the subject in regular publications and events, and is a sought-after contact person. The collection is notable not only for its impressive scope but also for its diversity. It includes vases from various Murano glass styles, including the famous vases by Carlo Scarpa from the 1940s, Tomaso Buzzi, a rare "Coppa delle Mani" (Coppa delle Mani), model no. 3416, several "Dama vases" by Paolo Venini, several "a macchie" vases by Fulvoo Bianconi, and rarities by Barovier & Toso, Dino Martnes, Napoleone Martinuzzi, Thomas Sterans, and Yoichi Ohira.
Grünbaum now organizes the sale of selected objects primarily through his own online shop at 1000-objekte.ch . He emphasizes the obvious advantages of online purchasing for collectors and interested parties: "True rarities are rarely found on the open market these days, and flea market finds at bargain prices have become more of a myth thanks to the internet," Grünbaum reports from his experience. "Auctions, on the other hand, often quickly become very expensive for emotionally driven collectors. Therefore, the online shop is the better choice for rationally minded customers and still offers many truly unique objects."
E-Book
Rare Murano Glass
Book an Appointment