At the New Bedford Museum of Glass, we are building a permanent collection of their achievements, a see-through zoo of crystal wildlife to document this glassmaking genre, and to inspire viewers with the amazing diversity of life on our planet. We invite you to join us for a “crystal safari,” as we develop our collection and share our latest discoveries here on Facebook! NBMOG is grateful to members Norman & Nora Stevens for launching this grand adventure. In 2011 they donated their collection of more than 500 torch-worked, miniature glass animals, most of which measure less than an inch in height! They also donated an important group of glass animal sculpture by the famous Orrefors glassworks, and since that time the Museum has sought outstanding examples by artists and glassmakers from all around the world. Each work employs the special properties of glass to create a unique and expressive statement about our world and its richly varied inhabitants.

Helping NBMOG to develop and display this growing collection are the following generous underwriters and supporters: Philip & Kate Beauregard, Laura Coffin, Tom & Peetie Dimitroff, Gerry Eggert, the Fiber Optic Center, Inc., Dianne Gregg, Fred Kasap, Edie & John Lawson, George J. Leontire, Jim & Betsy Lessig, Maria Martell, Andrea Natsios, David Nelson, Ross Nelson, Karen & Vaughn Petraglia, Bill Pitt, Allan & Jane Port, the President’s Office of the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, Richard Schimmelpfeng, Norman & Nora Stevens, and Sophia Grace Yanni. We hope you enjoy following our progress as a member the “Collecting Glass Animals at NBMOG” group, and we encourage you contact the Museum at www.nbmog.org, if you are interested in learning more, or would like to take part directly in this ongoing, extraordinary project!