Paul Stankard

Paul Stankard Floating Peony Botanical Signed 1981 Handblown Glass

$4,850.00
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Description

Artist: Paul Stankard
Title: Floating Peony Botanical
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Size: 4.25" x 2.375" x 2.375"
Year: 1981
Inscription: Inscribed "Stankard # 27" and dated "1981"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Paul Stankard's "Floating Peony Botanical" (1981) is a hand-blown glass sculpture measuring 4.25 inches in height. The work is inscribed “Stankard #27” and dated “1981” along the base, and it is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity.

Created during a formative period in Stankard's career, this piece reflects his distinctive approach to glass as both a technical and expressive medium. Encased within a clear glass rectangle, the composition features delicately rendered pink peony blossoms suspended among a complex network of roots. The blossoms demonstrate Stankard's commitment to naturalistic detail, their translucent petals and subtle gradations of color capturing the fragile qualities of the flower. Beneath the blooms, the intricate root system extends outward in fine, branching forms, anchoring the composition and reinforcing the artist's interest in representing the unseen structures that sustain life above ground.

"Floating Peony Botanical" exemplifies Stankard's efforts to reframe the glass paperweight tradition by transforming it into a site of botanical study. Rather than relying on conventional decorative motifs, Stankard approached his subjects with scientific precision informed by his early training as a scientific glassblower. At the same time, his compositions carry a symbolic dimension, reflecting his belief in the interconnectedness of natural systems. By incorporating both flowers and roots, Stankard presents a holistic vision of plant life—one that emphasizes balance, continuity, and the often-overlooked complexity of natural forms.

Works such as this contributed to the growing recognition of Stankard in the late 1970s and early 1980s, positioning him at the forefront of contemporary glass art. His blending of technical mastery with an intimate observation of nature helped elevate the medium from craft to fine art, leading to his inclusion in major museum collections such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. "Floating Peony Botanical", with its layered composition and attention to both visible and hidden structures, reflects the qualities that have defined Stankard's career and his lasting influence on the field of studio glass.


About Paul Stankard

Paul Stankard is an American glass artist widely recognized for his pioneering work in the field of paperweights and flameworked glass sculpture. His career spans more than five decades, during which he has elevated the paperweight tradition from decorative craft to an internationally respected art form.

Stankard was born in 1943 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, a town historically associated with jewelry making and metalwork. Diagnosed with dyslexia early in life, he found traditional academics challenging but gravitated toward hands-on learning and creative exploration. His interest in glass was first cultivated at Salem County Vocational Technical Institute (now Salem Community College) in Carneys Point, New Jersey, where he completed a scientific glassblowing program in 1963. This training prepared him for work in the scientific glass industry, providing him with the technical precision and familiarity with flameworking tools that would later underpin his artistic practice.

By the late 1960s, Stankard began experimenting with glass outside of its industrial applications, focusing on the creation of botanical studies encased within clear glass spheres and blocks. These early works drew inspiration from nature, particularly wildflowers and native plants, which he sought to render with accuracy and vitality. His departure from traditional ornamental motifs marked a significant shift in the paperweight tradition, aligning it with broader currents in contemporary art and craft.

Over the following decades, Stankard refined his techniques, developing a personal style characterized by naturalistic detail, layered compositions, and the integration of symbolic elements. His works often feature blossoms, roots, insects, and seedpods, arranged to reflect the interconnectedness of natural systems. He has described his process as a form of "spiritual meditation," viewing his glass botanicals as a way to honor the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Stankard's reputation grew steadily in the 1970s and 1980s, supported by exhibitions, critical recognition, and a growing collector base. His work is now represented in numerous public collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris). He has also been a central figure in the academic study of flameworking, contributing to the development of glass education programs and mentoring younger artists.

In addition to his studio practice, Stankard has authored several books reflecting on his artistic journey and philosophy, including No Green Berries or Leaves (2007) and Studio Craft as Career (2013). These writings provide insight into both his technical process and his personal narrative, particularly his experience overcoming dyslexia and redefining his sense of artistic identity.

Stankard's contributions to glass art have been recognized with numerous honors, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and induction into the American Craft Council College of Fellows. In 2014, Salem Community College named its glass education center in his honor, underscoring his lasting impact on both the field and its institutions.

Today, Paul Stankard continues to live and work in New Jersey, producing sculptures that merge technical mastery with poetic observation. His career reflects a lifelong dedication to the expressive possibilities of glass and its ability to communicate the intricacy of the natural world.

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