Paris Blue Basket Set, 2001 by Dale Chihuly

Paris Blue Basket Set, 2001 by Dale Chihuly

Paris Blue Basket Set, 2001; Hand-blown glass composed of seven elements; Incised signature and date to one element 'Chihuly 01'; Size: 12 x 13 1/4 x 12 1/2".

"My work, to this day revolves around a simple set of circumstances: fire, molten glass, human breath, spontaneity, centrifugal force, gravity." - Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly, born September 20, 1941, is an American glass sculptor whose innovative work has redefined the boundaries of contemporary glass art. Renowned for his mastery of blown glass, Chihuly has transformed the medium from a traditional craft into a vibrant, expressive form capable of monumental installations and site-specific environmental works. His technical prowess, combined with an inventive use of color, form, and scale, has made him one of the most influential glass artists of his generation.

Chihuly first began experimenting with glassblowing in 1965, following an extensive education focused on sculpture. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1968, the same year he was awarded both a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation grant and a Fulbright Fellowship for his pioneering work in glass. His studies took him to Venice, where he worked at the prestigious Venini factory on the island of Murano and witnessed firsthand the collaborative “team approach” to glassblowing—a method that would later become integral to his own practice.

In 1976, Chihuly experienced a life-altering accident while in England: a head-on car crash propelled him through the windshield, leaving his face severely lacerated and permanently blinding him in his left eye. Undeterred, he returned to glassblowing, continuing until 1979 when a dislocated right shoulder, sustained while body surfing, rendered him physically unable to hold the glassblowing pipe. This limitation prompted a major shift in his approach. Drawing upon the collaborative techniques he had observed in Murano, Chihuly began employing a team of skilled assistants to execute the physical work, while he assumed the role of designer, supervisor, and problem solver. Reflecting on this transformation, he said, "Once I stepped back, I liked the view." Freed from the physical constraints of the medium, Chihuly was able to envision his work from multiple perspectives, anticipate challenges more effectively, and orchestrate increasingly complex and ambitious projects.

Among his most acclaimed series is the Macchia series, begun in 1981 and continuing to the present. Macchia, Italian for “spot,” represents Chihuly’s fascination with layering color and form. The series captures the dynamic interplay of transparency, opacity, and color in glass, producing vessels that appear to glow from within. Each piece is an experiment in color, texture, and movement, reflecting Chihuly’s belief that glass is at its most expressive in its volatile, semi-fluid state.

Equally significant in Chihuly’s oeuvre is the Basket series, which he describes as a personal breakthrough: "Baskets was the breakthrough series for me as an artist." In 1977, Chihuly drew inspiration from the woven baskets of the Northwest Coast Indian tradition, housed at the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma. He was struck by the graceful, slumped, and sagging forms of the baskets, and sought to translate their organic elegance into glass. Chihuly, who had studied weaving, approached glass in a similarly tactile and experimental manner, embracing asymmetry, organic form, and layered construction. The Basket series ranges from small, intimate pieces to large, dramatic sculptures that combine multiple elements, some reaching six feet in length and containing up to twenty interwoven glass forms. Through careful manipulation of thickness and transparency, Chihuly allows viewers to peer into the interiors of his baskets, revealing a complex interplay of color, form, and internal structure that invites close examination and contemplation.

Chihuly and his collaborative team of artists have been extensively documented in films, monographs, and articles, reflecting the cultural and artistic impact of his work.

Paris Blue Basket Set (2001) is an extraordinary example of Chihuly at the height of his creative powers. This monumental set consists of seven brilliant blue glass pieces, each accented with a contrasting black lip. The largest basket begins with a deep cobalt blue at the top, gradually transitioning to a thinner, transparent glass at its base, allowing viewers to glimpse the other elements contained within the vessel. The interplay of color, transparency, and structure exemplifies Chihuly’s mastery of both form and composition. Bold, complex, and visually captivating, Paris Blue Basket Set is a stunning demonstration of modern glass artistry and a standout addition to any distinguished collection.

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