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While David Whitehouse, who has died aged 71 of cancer, did notable work as a medieval archaeologist, his professional first love was the study of ancient glass. Born in Britain, he spent the bulk of his career at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, upstate New York, the world's largest such collection.While David Whitehouse, who has died aged 71 of cancer, did notable work as a medieval archaeologist, his professional first love was the study of ancient glass. Born in Britain, he spent the bulk of his career at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, upstate New York, the world's largest such collection.
He became its chief curator in 1984, director in 1992 and then executive director and curator of ancient and Islamic glass in 1999. In 2011 he became the museum's senior scholar. Under his direction, nearly 20,000 acquisitions were added, nearly doubling the museum's holdings. Its Rakow Research Library, the foremost in its field, acquired thousands of books, rare manuscripts and archives from artists and glass companies around the world.He became its chief curator in 1984, director in 1992 and then executive director and curator of ancient and Islamic glass in 1999. In 2011 he became the museum's senior scholar. Under his direction, nearly 20,000 acquisitions were added, nearly doubling the museum's holdings. Its Rakow Research Library, the foremost in its field, acquired thousands of books, rare manuscripts and archives from artists and glass companies around the world.
From 1996 to 2001, Whitehouse oversaw a renovation that added substantial public space to the main building, and founded the first glassmaking studio within a museum. His vision was to provide a state-of-the-art glassmaking school that would train future generations of artists. Each year, thousands of students take classes, and tens of thousands of museum visitors make their own glass.From 1996 to 2001, Whitehouse oversaw a renovation that added substantial public space to the main building, and founded the first glassmaking studio within a museum. His vision was to provide a state-of-the-art glassmaking school that would train future generations of artists. Each year, thousands of students take classes, and tens of thousands of museum visitors make their own glass.
He was a prolific lecturer, giving talks at conferences around the world, providing some of the museum's most popular public tours of the collection for visitors and training students and volunteer guides at the museum. Following weekdays spent in meetings, he came into the office every weekend to research and write. He catalogued nearly all of the museum's 7,000-piece collection of ancient glass.He was a prolific lecturer, giving talks at conferences around the world, providing some of the museum's most popular public tours of the collection for visitors and training students and volunteer guides at the museum. Following weekdays spent in meetings, he came into the office every weekend to research and write. He catalogued nearly all of the museum's 7,000-piece collection of ancient glass.
In the course of his career, Whitehouse published more than 500 scholarly papers, reviews, monographs and books, including three volumes on the Roman glass at Corning. In 1990, he co-wrote with the artist and scholar William Gudenrath several articles on the manufacture and ancient repair of the Portland Vase, the most famous cameo-glass vessel to survive from antiquity. While it is held at the British Museum in London, Corning possesses several replica versions.In the course of his career, Whitehouse published more than 500 scholarly papers, reviews, monographs and books, including three volumes on the Roman glass at Corning. In 1990, he co-wrote with the artist and scholar William Gudenrath several articles on the manufacture and ancient repair of the Portland Vase, the most famous cameo-glass vessel to survive from antiquity. While it is held at the British Museum in London, Corning possesses several replica versions.
Whitehouse curated numerous exhibitions, including Reflecting Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome (2008), Botanical Wonders: The Story of the Harvard Glass Flowers (2007) and Glass of the Sultans (2001). The Glass of the Caesars exhibition (1987) was a joint enterprise with the British Museum and the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Cologne.Whitehouse curated numerous exhibitions, including Reflecting Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome (2008), Botanical Wonders: The Story of the Harvard Glass Flowers (2007) and Glass of the Sultans (2001). The Glass of the Caesars exhibition (1987) was a joint enterprise with the British Museum and the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Cologne.
A native of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Whitehouse grew up in Wildmoor, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He went to King Edward's school in Birmingham, and gained a PhD in archaeology at St John's College, Cambridge.A native of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Whitehouse grew up in Wildmoor, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He went to King Edward's school in Birmingham, and gained a PhD in archaeology at St John's College, Cambridge.
An Oxford fellowship enabled him to direct six seasons of excavation at the site of the ancient port city of Siraf in Iran. There his team uncovered well-preserved architecture and several million objects dating back to the ninth century AD.An Oxford fellowship enabled him to direct six seasons of excavation at the site of the ancient port city of Siraf in Iran. There his team uncovered well-preserved architecture and several million objects dating back to the ninth century AD.
Whitehouse then spent a year as the director of the British Institute of Afghan Studies before being appointed director of the British School at Rome (1974-84). During this time, he played an active role in medieval excavations throughout Italy. Richard Hodges, president of the American University in Rome, credited him with helping transform an antiquarian discipline into a professional one.Whitehouse then spent a year as the director of the British Institute of Afghan Studies before being appointed director of the British School at Rome (1974-84). During this time, he played an active role in medieval excavations throughout Italy. Richard Hodges, president of the American University in Rome, credited him with helping transform an antiquarian discipline into a professional one.
One of his great pleasures at Corning lay in research into cage cups, ornate luxury items from the latter part of the Roman empire. Some were made as drinking vessels and others as hanging oil lamps. Whitehouse was enamoured not only of their exquisiteness – the fragility of their decoration and the skill involved in crafting them – but also of the optical fascination of the interaction between flame and glass. Last year he produced his final book, Glass: A Short History.One of his great pleasures at Corning lay in research into cage cups, ornate luxury items from the latter part of the Roman empire. Some were made as drinking vessels and others as hanging oil lamps. Whitehouse was enamoured not only of their exquisiteness – the fragility of their decoration and the skill involved in crafting them – but also of the optical fascination of the interaction between flame and glass. Last year he produced his final book, Glass: A Short History.
His first marriage, to Ruth Ainger, ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth-Anne Ollemans, whom he married in 1975; by their three children, Julia, Nicci and Simon; and by the three children of his first marriage, Sarah, Susan and Peter.His first marriage, to Ruth Ainger, ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth-Anne Ollemans, whom he married in 1975; by their three children, Julia, Nicci and Simon; and by the three children of his first marriage, Sarah, Susan and Peter.
• David Bryn Whitehouse, archaeologist and museum director, born 15 October 1941; died 17 February 2013• David Bryn Whitehouse, archaeologist and museum director, born 15 October 1941; died 17 February 2013
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