DALLAS –The auction of the estate of prominent glass collector John W. Lolley is sending shockwaves through the world of glass collectors.

During the past 40 years, Lolley amassed one of the world’s major art glass collections. He was a founding member and president of the Mount Washington Art Glass Society; the American Cut Glass Association; National American Glass Club and the Carder-Steuben Collectors Society. He was known as a leading authority on are glass authoring many articles as well as lecturing and offering private glass exhibitions. In 2008, he was recognized by Arts and Antiques Magazine as one of the Top 100 Collectors in America.

Lolley, as a successful banker, took a long, studied approach to collecting. He began studying Mt. Washington glass, America’s second-oldest glassmaker and England’s Thomas Webb and Sons in the early 1970s. Cautiously, he began buying pieces, but it wasn’t long until his understanding and appreciation of glassmaking expanded.

“When we went down to pick his glass up, it was just mind boggling,” said Jerry Holley, from Dallas Auction Gallery. “There were thousands of pieces. And lots of good porcelain and Chinese work … we took five guys down there, worked for a week, loading and packing stuff, and still have more to bring back.” Dallas Auction Gallery will offer the collection beginning Jan. 30.

Holley said it would take “at least three auctions” to clear out the estate. The second auction is already scheduled for March 20.

The majority of the first auction to be held at Dallas Auction Gallery’s auction house will have an emphasis on Mt. Washington glass. French and English cameo will be selling in addition to glass by Steuben, Loetz, Tiffany, Lalique, Durand, Orrefors, Majorelle, Harrach, and more than 100 pieces of decorated Burmese

“There’s a bunch of good Chinese pieces too,” Holley says. That includes several antique Chinese and Japanese porcelains, carved jade, bronzes, furniture, scrolls, plus an exceptionally large ruyi septer with jade plaques and an important Qing Imperial Yongzheng period blue and white bowl.

Holley acknowledges that the glass market has been in a slump for the past several years. “Ten to 15 years ago, these pieces would have been worth twice as much as they’ll bring.”

But, for collectors, looking for a particular piece “to fill a hole” in a collection, the Jan. 30 sale is a perfect destination. “There’s just so much here. The first sale is the tip of the iceberg. We’ll be selling a lot of combined lots. There’s a lot of duplicates. There’s going to be a lot of good buys.”

Contact: (214) 653-3900

www.dallasauctiongallery.com