Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Cranberry Red Four Piece Seaform with Teal Lip Wrap
Medium: Hand-Blown Glass
Largest Seaform: 8.75" x 16.25" x 10"
Medium Seaform: 3.5" x 9.75" x 7.5"
Small Seaform: 4" x 6" x 5.5"
Small Element: 1.75" x 4.75" x 4.75"
Year: 1997
Inscription: Signed and dated "Chihuly 97" on small element
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
A stunning example of Dale Chihuly's enduring fascination with organic form, vibrant color, and the fluidity of glass, Cranberry Red Four Piece Seaform with Teal Lip Wrap is a masterwork of the artist's celebrated Seaform series. Composed of four handblown glass elements, the work features softly undulating forms in translucent cranberry red, each edged with delicate teal lip wraps—a signature of Chihuly's meticulous craftsmanship and eye for striking color contrast.
The Seaform series, which emerged in the early 1980s, reflects Chihuly's deep connection to the natural world, particularly the rhythms and movement of marine life. In this 1997 composition, the interplay between scale, transparency, and curvature evokes the sensation of submerged sea creatures or tidal pools captured in motion. The forms appear almost weightless, as if they could float on a current or shift with a breeze, despite the permanence of their medium.
The largest seaform in the grouping measures an impressive 16.5 inches across, anchoring the piece with a sense of presence and balance. The smaller forms vary in shape and size, creating a dynamic conversation among the components when viewed as an ensemble. The smallest piece bears the artist's signature and date, “Chihuly 97", marking its authenticity and connection to one of the most influential glass artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Accompanied by a Gallery Certificate of Authenticity, this four-piece Seaform is not only a visually captivating work of art, but also a significant addition to any serious collection of contemporary glass. It exemplifies Chihuly's ability to merge technical virtuosity with poetic abstraction, capturing the essence of nature in molten form.
Dale Chihuly - A Biography
Dale Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, a working-class port city that would later influence his connection to natural forms and water. He discovered glass as an artistic medium while studying interior design at the University of Washington. After receiving his B.A. in 1965, Chihuly continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, home to the first glass program in the country under Harvey Littleton, a pioneer of the American Studio Glass Movement. He earned his M.S. in sculpture there, and later an M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he would also go on to establish and teach in the glass program.
European Influence and Innovation
A pivotal moment in Chihuly's career came in 1968, when he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study glassblowing at the renowned Venini glass factory in Murano, Italy. There, he was exposed to the collaborative nature of traditional Venetian glassmaking—a model that would inspire his own studio practice. Chihuly embraced the idea of working with teams of glassblowers, allowing him to scale up his artistic ambitions and introduce more complex forms and installations.
Defining a Visual Language
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Chihuly developed his distinctive aesthetic—organic, undulating, and often monumental. He began creating series of works that explored the expressive possibilities of glass beyond functionality. Among his most iconic series are:
- Macchia (1981–present): Brightly colored, freestanding vessels featuring intense contrasts and spotted surfaces.
- Seaforms (1980–present): Delicate, marine-inspired shapes that seem to float in space.
- Persians (1986–present): Bold, swirling forms that often feature intricate patterns and large-scale installations.
- Chandeliers (1992–present): Gravity-defying sculptures made of hundreds of hand-blown glass elements, often suspended in dramatic architectural spaces.
These bodies of work reflect Chihuly's dual commitment to material innovation and immersive experience, challenging traditional definitions of both sculpture and craft.
Personal Challenges and Legacy
Chihuly's career has not been without obstacles. A car accident in 1976 left him blind in one eye, and a subsequent shoulder injury prevented him from blowing glass himself. Rather than limiting his output, these events reinforced his collaborative studio model, allowing him to continue directing ambitious projects with teams of skilled artisans.
Over the decades, Chihuly's work has been exhibited in major museums, botanical gardens, and public spaces around the world. His installations have captivated millions, from the canals of Venice to the ceiling of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Lasting Impact
Dale Chihuly is widely regarded as the artist who elevated glass from a craft into the realm of contemporary fine art. His embrace of color, scale, and light has redefined what glass can be and how it can be experienced. Today, he remains one of the most influential and collected living artists in the world.
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