Bill & Irma Runyon began this collection of English Cameo glass over
thirty [now 45] years ago. As Bill tells the story, Irma gave him a small vase for his
birthday one year. He was not enthralled with the piece, bought himself another,
and sold the original piece through the art and antiques shop that he and Irma
operated. As his collection and his knowledge about English Cameo Glass grew,
he had second thoughts about having sold the original piece from the collection.
So one day when it came up at an auction, he bought it back.
When I met Bill Runyon in 1979, the collection was a little over half the size
of what it is now. Already, however, the collection contained an impressive
number of master works by Woodall including, The Toilet of Venus (1898), Love’s
Awakening (1890), and On the Terrace (1895).
After the Board of Regents of
the University System accepted the Bill & Irma Runyon Collection in March
of 1986 and dedicated the Forsyth Center in the Memorial Student Center for
its display, Bill’s desire to create an outstanding collection of English
Cameo glass was made more evident. He began an aggressive acquisition program
which nearly doubled the size of the collection and significantly increased
the number of Woodall works. Among the treasures added to the collection after
1986 are The Polar Vase (1908), Wild Waves (c. 1882), The Favourite (c. 1882),
Floralia (1908-10) and The Origin of Painting (c. 1920).
Bill has been exceedingly careful not only to represent the various types and
uses of English Cameo Glass, (e.g., figural work, ivory glass, curio works, “commercial
cameo,” etc.), but also to obtain the very best examples of the work
available. Thus several significant Woodall Team works are included, such as
the two elaborately decorated five layer vases and the fish decorated ivory
glass vase.
In establishing the Bill & Irma Runyon Art Collections Trust, not only
is the University beneficiary to an impressive and important art collection,
but the world of English Cameo Glass has benefited by having so many fine examples
of this art movement on public display in one setting.
Joe R. Arredondo, Jr.
Curator
