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THOMAS BUECHNER b. 1926, New York City; resides in New York
Tom Buechner has fond early memories of his opera-loving grandmother. Early on Saturday mornings he would arrive at her house with his brothers and sisters where Grandmother, seated at the piano, would walk them through the arias they were to hear later that afternoon at the Met. Thus began Buechner's life-long love of opera.
Buechner's art education was taken at Princeton University, the Art Students League in New York City and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He also studied Old Master painting techniques in Amsterdam. Known for his beautifully rendered portrait, still life and landscape paintings, Buechner has had many one-person shows in New York and throughout the United States. His paintings have been exhibited in Europe and Japan and have been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. The Das Reingold portfolio is in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art.
In addition to his painting career, Buechner is a respected museum professional. He was the first director of the Coming Museum of Glass (1950-60), and director of the Brooklyn Museum (1960-71). In 1972 he became president of Steuben Glass, a position from which he is now retired.
The price of the Das Reingold portfolio of 11 prints in a clamshell folio is $4,000*
A very limited number of artist's proofs of individual prints are available at $500* each
To enlarge click on image
Erda Warns Wotan, 1998
Intaglio vitreograph on German etching paper, Edition of 50
image size: 12" x 16", paper size: 22" x 30"
Buechner's love of painting, of opera and of glass came together in 1989 in an ambitious project: the illustration of Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold in a series of eleven vitreograph prints. The portfolio was published in a numbered edition of fifty, with an additional ten signed artist's proofs of each of the eleven images. The numbered editions are available only as a portfolio; the artist's proofs can be purchased singly.
In keeping with the epic story of passion, greed and vengeance, Buechner limned his characters in heroic style. The figures of noble gods, grotesque dwarves and lumbering giants are set like luminous jewels against velvet blackness. In all, Buechner has created a pictorial story worthy of Wagner's soaring music.
To enlarge click on image
Fasolt and Fafner carry off Freia,1998
Intaglio vitreograph on German etching paper, Ed. of 50
image size 24" x 18", paper size 30" x 22"
To enlarge click on image
Alberich becomes invisible to Mine, 1998
Intaglio vitreograph on German etching paper, Ed. of 50
image size 16" x 12", paper size: 22"x 30"
To enlarge click on image
Wotan Enters Vahalla, 1998
Intaglio vitreograph on German etching paper, Ed. of 50
image size 16" x 22", paper size 22" x 30"
The portfolio of prints in a clamshell folio comes with a cover sheet describing the scenes depicted in the prints and a synopsis of the opera.
Another series of prints by Buechner is a suite depicting four glass artists: Dale Chihuly, Dan Dailey, Harvey K. Littleton and Erwin Eisch. The series was published in 1982. Each print measures 8 x 8 inches on a 15 x 11 inch sheet. The suite was published in an edition of 50 and costs $1,000*.
Individual prints are available for $300* each
To order:
Email The Littleton Collection (press "contact us" below) to let us know which print(s) you would like to purchase; we will confirm the price and that the print is still available.
Florida, North Carolina and District of Columbia residents: State tax will be added to the purchase price.
Prints are shipped flat. Shipping and handling adds $35 to the price of the print.
Payment:
Send check or money order for print(s), tax and shipping to:
The Littleton Collection, 3690 N. US 1, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946
We also accept Visa and MasterCard over the telephone.
Shipment and returns: Your print will be shipped as soon as we receive payment. Each print comes with a documentation sheet that certifies the materials used in making the print and the number of prints and proofs in the edition, along with other important information.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase return it within seven days of receipt in the packaging in which it was sent. The Littleton Collection will refund the purchase price on undamaged merchandise.
Questions: Email below or phone us in Florida at 772/595-9845 (9:00 to 5:00 EST -- long distance charge).