Dr. Mike Diorio and Paul Stankard became close friends in the early 1970's when Mike Diorio was introduced to Stankard's paperweights by art gallery owner Reese Palley. Dr. Diorio was a dentist and amateur nature photographer.

The two friends spent many hours together hiking in the New Jersey Pine Barrens where Dr. Diorio photographed the beautiful native flowers while Paul Stankard made notes and sketches as reference for his glass art designs.

Over the years, Dr. Diorio acquired a substantial collection of Paul's work, and allowed it to be exhibited in museums as well as documented in publications such as the book Paul J. Stankard, Homage to Nature by Ulysses Grant Dietz.

Many of these beautiful pieces will be photographed and described for the Stankard early works Web site, and offered for sale.

This is one of the largest Stankard collections, and because each item was personally selected by Dr. Diorio, it is a very special collection of Paul's art work.