The Corning Museum of Glass received the first installment of the largest gift in its 55-year history on 20 July/06. In the presence of the Corning Inc. chairman James R. Houghton & other senior executives, the museum displayed the first of one hundred pieces of studio glass from the 250-piece collection of Ben W. Heineman Sr. & his wife, Natalie. The museum is set to receive the remainder of the US$9.5M collection by November 2007. "This is an historic moment for the museum", museum president Marie McKee said. David Whitehouse, executive director, said the Heinemans assembled "the most distinguished private collection of glass art in existence". The 250 objects the Heinemans collected over the past 22 years will fill significant gaps in the museum's holdings and will make the museum's representation of studio glass richer & more comprehensive.
