Santa Fe’s House of Glass
- “Ashore,” by artist Bobby Bowes, incorporates 20 blown glass vessels of varying sizes and is part of the Ehrenbergs’ extensive outdoor art collection. CREDIT: Chris Corrie
On any summer evening, high above the Santa Fe Opera open-air theater, Richard and Betsy Ehrenberg’s unique residence lights up like a crystal jewelry box against a star-scattered sky. Topping a ridge with 360-degree views of northern New Mexico—the Jemez mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristos to the east—there could be no better setting to showcase their stunning fine art glass collection.
The Ehrenbergs both grew up surrounded by art. Betsy’s mother was an accomplished painter and museum visits were regular family events. Richard’s father, Raymond Ehrenberg, began collecting American paperweights in 1932, buying his first for $2.50. He went on to purchase from the foremost paperweight makers of his time, including Baccarat, Clichy and Saint Louis, amassing a collection that was the envy of his most competitive colleagues. The collection eventually passed on to Richard and Betsy and served as the catalyst for an amazing studio art glass collection of their own.
Initially the couple sought out modern paperweights to add to their antiques collection, but they soon found themselves enchanted with larger, three-dimensional sculptures in glass. They attended the Pilchuck Glass School’s annual fundraising auction in Seattle and purchased seven sculptures. At artist David Bennett’s studio they watched a piece being made and, as Betsy remembers, “the process fascinated us—it was like watching a baby being born!” They were hooked.
For more of “House of Glass,” purchase the Summer 2011 issue of AmericanStyle.
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