Paul Stankard Environmental Paperweight I Signed Hand Blown Glass Sculpture

Artist: Paul Stankard
Title: Environmental Paperweight I
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Size: 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Inscription: Signed by artist "Paul J. Stankard A219 1986"
Year: 1986
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Every aspect of Paul Stankard's "Environmental Paperweight I" is blown by hand and assembled by the artist. The details are so delicate and life-like, many observers believe the botanicals and insects are actually real, preserved from nature rather than man-made. The delicate bloom and intricate stems of "Environmental Paperweight I" add a vibrant burst of color against the natural, muted backdrop. Many of Stankard's glass objects feature the subject matter appearing to float in negative space, making the substantial and grounded natural background of "Environmental Paperweight I" quite notable.

Paul Stankard's Environmental Paperweight I measures 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". The piece is signed and dated by the artist "Paul J. Stankard A219 1986" and comes with a gallery certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.

About Paul Stankard

Paul Stankard has revolutionized the paperweight and made a name for himself as one of the most talented glass artists in the world. He is crediting with elevating the paperweight from an office supply to the level of fine art, with his work now showcase in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Louvre in Paris.

Born in 1943, Stankard began his glass career working as a glassblower making scientific instruments. In 1969, he began experimenting with paperweights in a quest to use his technical proficiency in glass blowing for something more creative. The technique Paul Stankard used created botanicals inside the paperweights with such hyper-realism that many people thought the paperweights included actual flowers. Stankard creates each element of the paperweight individually, paying close attention to every detail from color to texture before assembling the final product. His work takes in the entire scope of nature, extending far beyond placing a pretty floral bloom in a paperweight: he often includes insects, roots, and complete natural systems. While the majority of popular glass artists in the world today create modern work, Stankard’s classical and timeless designs created with stunning realism allow his work to stand out.

The spiritual element of botany plays an important role in Stankard’s work. He emphasizes that beauty can be found in unexpected places. In addition to being a glass artist, Paul Stankard is also a prolific author who has written several poems, articles, and two books.