Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941). Set of four "Persian Forms" handblown glass. With a spiderweb design in turquoise blue along one side and a variation from orange to black along the other. Rimmed in bright red. Including one large open bowl, two cones, and one shell-like form. They are able to be nested together in a variety of unique ways.

Provenance: Savage Art Resources, Portland, OR; Distinguished Corporate Collection; Private Minnesota Collection

Lot Essay:
Dale Chihuly first encountered glass art as an interior design student at the University of Washington. Immediately fascinated, he went on to study glass at the University of Wisconsin, which was the first university in the United States to teach glassblowing. From there, he went on to the Rhode Island School of Design, where he continued to learn about glass and eventually ended up teaching. His education continued with a Fulbright Fellowship to go to the famous glassblowing studios of Venice. After his time in Italy, he returned to his home state of Washington to found his own glass school, the Pilchuck Glass School, with Ann and John Hauberg, influential supporters of the arts in Seattle. At this school, his art style and process truly flourished. In particular, Chihuly first fostered the collaborative method of glassblowing he had witnessed in Italy at Pilchuck, something that would become a hallmark of his artistic process.
(Large bowl) height: 13 1/2 in x width: 17 in x depth: 21 in. (Small cone) height: 4 1/2 in x diameter: 4 in. (Large cone) height: 16 in x diameter: 3 1/2 in. (Abstract form) length: 12 in x width: 4 in x depth: 2 1/4 in. Throughout all of the pieces there are no major cracks, losses, or restorations. There are some accretions and dust collected throughout. Along the large bowls there is a minute chip near the edge of the interior of the bowl, approximately 1/4 inch. There are no other notable scratches or chips.