Charles Lotton Early Sunset Multi Flora Vase (1978)

Charles Lotton's early experiments with his Multi Flora flower pattern combined with his creation of a base color called "Sunset" to make this an exceptional early glass vase dating from 1978. This is the first full year of his "independence" from a requirements contract with the famous Lillian Nassau associated with Tiffany Studios that ended in 1977 and shows the artist expanding upon the colors, size, and scope of his creations.

Charles Gerald Lotton (born October 2, 1935 and passed away in September, 2021) was a contemporary glass artist who took the world by storm with his extraordinary skills in batch making, use of innovative techniques, and bold color combinations. In 1970, Lotton built a small glass studio behind his house in Sauk Village, Illinois. In June 1971, Lotton sold his first glass to C. D. Peacock, a downtown Chicago jeweler.

A chance meeting with Dr. Ed McConnell during a visit to Corning, New York, resulted in an introduction to Lillian Nassau, a leading New York City art glass dealer. Paul Nassau, Lillian’s son, and Lotton signed an exclusive five-year contract in 1972. Lotton leased a former lumber yard in Lansing, Illinois, to serve as his studio. In 1975, he built a new studio in Lynwood, Illinois, eventually building a glasswork behind his home in Crete, Illinois, in 1982.

By 1977, Lotton had achieved a national reputation and wanted the freedom to sell glass directly to his own distributors, including RSB. Lotton glass is sold through select retailers and at specialized shows.

Lotton’s glass is in the collections of major museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Corning Museum of Glass, High Museum, and the Smithsonian. We have seen his lamps and vases in the background of recent television shows and a recent documentary on PBS.

Because this is an early version of Multi Flora, such works command a premium among Lotton collectors and institutions. The Vase is about 7 inches tall, 7 inches at its widest, and weighs about 3 lbs.