Rare Picasso glass artwork found in Evansville Museum of Art storage

A rare piece of art believed to have been inspired by Pablo Picasso in an Evansville museum, actually turned out to be an original work of art.

Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science Curator Mary Bower says there are only approximately 50 of these glass works of art done by Picasso.

The Evansville Museum says the piece titled “Seated Woman with Red Hat” was donated to the museum in 1963.

Museum officials say it was cataloged as art inspired by a design for a Picasso painting but credited to an artist named Gemmaux. That name turned out to be plural for “gemmail,” which is the type of glass used in the work.

Mary Bower says their research has found Picasso worked with a French studio to make the layered glass art.

She says their research has also found it’s not financially feasible to insure, display and secure the art in their museum.

Mary Bower says the museum’s Board of Trustees has contracted with Guernsey’s of New York to auction the item. She says it could be auctioned off within 6 months.