Dale Chihuly 1995 13 Inch Handblown Glass Cobalt Blue and Gold Float

Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Cobalt Blue and Gold Float
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Dimensions: 13" Diameter
Year: 1995
Documentation: Includes gallery certificate of authenticity, original Chihuly Studios box, original shipping labels
Provenance: From the private collection of Sharon Singer, aquired directly from Chihuly Studios. Originally created as a sample for an installation at the WTC Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

Dale Chihuly's Cobalt Blue and Gold Float (1995) demonstrates the artist's sustained investigation of spherical form, color, and the optical properties of handblown glass. Part of Chihuly's Float series, the work is characterized by its rounded silhouette and richly layered surface, in which transparent cobalt blue glass is interspersed with metallic gold and intricate patterned elements. Rather than functioning as a solid, monolithic form, the sphere appears to contain shifting layers of color and texture, emphasizing the interaction between light, transparency, and surface.

The contrast between deep cobalt blue and warm gold creates a pronounced chromatic tension across the sculpture. Gold inclusions and irregular surface patterns interrupt the blue field, producing variations in density and luminosity that change with the surrounding light and the viewer's position. The spherical format further emphasizes these optical effects, allowing the composition to be experienced continuously around its circumference.

This 13-inch-diameter Float was produced in 1995 as a sample for an installation at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Its provenance traces the work from Chihuly Studios to designer Sharon Singer, who worked with the studio on the installation. The work is accompanied by its original Chihuly Studios box and the original shipping labels, providing additional documentation of its history and connection to the installation project. Purchase also includes a Gallery Certificate of Authenticity from Modern Artifact.

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About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly (born 1941) is an American artist whose pioneering approach to glass helped establish the medium as a significant form of contemporary art. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly studied interior design at the University of Washington, where his interest in glass began in the early 1960s. He later earned a Master of Science in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

In 1968, Chihuly received a Fulbright Fellowship to study at the Venini glass factory in Murano, Venice. His experience there introduced him to a collaborative approach to glassblowing that became fundamental to his practice. In 1969, he established the glass program at RISD, where he taught for more than a decade. He also cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State in 1971, an institution that became an important center for glass education and experimentation.

Chihuly is recognized for his expansive use of color, organic forms, asymmetry, and the expressive possibilities of blown glass. His major series include Baskets, Seaforms, Macchia, Persians, Venetians, Niijima Floats, Chandeliers, and Fiori. His practice also encompasses drawing, painting, and large-scale architectural installations.

Chihuly's work has been exhibited internationally and is represented in more than 200 museum collections. Major exhibitions have taken place at institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum, de Young Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. His work continues to be presented in museums, gardens, and architectural settings worldwide.