Foundation to hold fundraiser
Art lovers will get a rare opportunity next month to view one of the largest, privately owned art collections on the West Coast when the Saratoga Historical Foundation hosts a fundraiser at the Old Grandview Ranch.
The 22-acre estate houses three fine art galleries and gardens filled with sculptures.
Construction of the Old Grandview was completed in 1928. Today it’s owned by retired San Jose State Professor Donald Head, who opens it to the public every couple of years for a fundraiser.
“It takes a month to get ready for a party,” caretaker Dan Cooper said. Last week, Cooper was busy changing thousands of light bulbs in the galleries and getting the estate’s giant Italian fountain ready for its springtime debut.
The fountain offers a sprawling view of the valley floor and is adjacent to a loggia featuring ornate ceiling frescoes and statues of the Three Muses from Greek mythology. The design is meant to complement the estate’s French Norman Revival architecture.
“It’s hard to believe unless you see it,” historical foundation President Annette Stransky said. “Almost every square inch of the main house is covered in paintings and the second floor of the guest house has the glass collection.”
That collection contains a sunflower piece that Stransky said is “the largest piece of art glass in the world.”
The themed garden areas include one-of-a-kind, oversized brass likenesses of Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
“I broke the molds so they couldn’t be copied,” Cooper said.
There’s also a complete 10-foot-long cave lion skeleton. The skeleton’s description says cave lions lived 80,000-100,000 years ago and were the largest Ice Age predator.
The Old Grandview Ranch fundraiser is 4-7 p.m. May 19 and features docentled tours, plus food and wine pairings. Individual tickets are $200. Sponsor tickets start at $2,500 and include a champagne and wine reception with Donald Head. Purchase tickets at saratogahistory.com.