Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Putti and the Blowfish
Medium: Handblown glass
Size: 31" x 16" x 16"
Inscription: Signed
Condition: Museum quality
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Although Dale Chihuly’s glass art is renowned for its modernity, the innovative forms and unexpected color pallets the artist is known for would not be possible without a formidable mastery of classical techniques. The wonderfully named “Putti and the Blowfish” is a respectful tribute to the founders of modern glass art, showcasing more traditional shapes, colors, and techniques. The more traditional styling makes this piece a perfect fit for collectors with more classic décor or avid fans looking to diversify their collection. The namesake “Putti” of this piece are inspired from traditional cherubs and have come to denote any solid glass figure in Chihuly’s work. The Putti, blowfish, and the other textural, gold elements in this piece are created with a delicate eye for detail and unmatched precision. This piece is signed by the artist and comes with a gallery certificate of authenticity.
One of the most famous contemporary glass artists in the world, Dale Chihuly is best known for his monumental sculptures and installations. He is the name behind the spectacular ceiling at the Bellagio’s flower garden in Las Vegas and the creator of the Rotunda Chandelier at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Glass works of Dale Chihuly are considered some of the most desired collectibles between the decorative arts devotees today. Despite his initial indifference towards education, Chihuly has spent a lot of time in school, obtaining both scientific and artistic degree in sculpture from prestigious graduate schools. He displayed a proclivity for interior design and craft early on, but his true passion was always in the glass. He was a Fulbright Fellow in the late 1960s and an apprentice at the Venini Glass Factory in Venice. Mastering the art of Murano glasswork, he continued the experiments with glassblowing and thus became one of the people who brought the ancient art of glassblowing back into the spotlight on an international scale. Monumental and small-scale artwork of Dale Chihuly is present in over 200 most renowned decorative art collections today, while the artist holds twelve honorary doctorates! The most illustrious series in his work are Cylinders and Baskets he created in the 1970s; Macchia, Venetians, and Persians from the 1980s, Niijima Floats and Chandeliers created in the 1990s; and a more recent one, Fiori from the 2000s. For over 30 years, Dale Chihuly has been acting as an artistic director of his team of craftsmen, since he was incapacitated in two accidents, which left him blind in one eye and incapable of holding the blowing tube. This change allowed him to see the possibilities of glass work on a broader scale, while still maintaining his recognizable style.