Deep Blue and Bronze Gold Persian Set thumbnail 1
Deep Blue and Bronze Gold Persian Set thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Contemporary Glass, Room 129, The Märit Rausing Gallery

Deep Blue and Bronze Gold Persian Set

Multiple Form
1999 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Persians series evolved from the Seaforms series in 1985, when the glassblower Martin Blanwith carried out experimental sessions under Dale Chihuly’s direction. The first examples were reminiscent of the tiny core-formed bottles of ancient Egypt and Persia. The series then developed into a range of widely differing shapes. The outer container forms were often of enormous size.

These pieces are each decorated with lines of thin, trailed glass. The piece was then blown into a ribbed mould leaving the ‘spines’ of thicker glass and then fully blown to shape. The outer form was spun out into a huge disk before finally being shaped by gravity and manipulated by hand.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
Titles
  • Deep Blue and Bronze Gold Persian Set (assigned by artist)
  • Persians (series title)
Materials and techniques
Glass, with threading and twisted canes (filigree of various types), blown into an optic mould, free-blown and hand-worked
Brief description
Large, spreading, organic shape, in blue with red rim, containing 7 assorted shapes, three in yellow with elongated, tentacle-like streamers, three globes (two yellow, one red) and a yellow frilly bowl-like shape.
Physical description
Large, spreading, organic shape, in blue with red rim, containing 7 assorted shapes, three in yellow with elongated, tentacle-like streamers, three globes (two yellow, one red) and a yellow frilly bowl-like shape.
Dimensions
  • Width: 89cm
Other dimensions depending on arrangement.
Marks and inscriptions
'Chihuly' (Signature)
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support and Paul Bedford
Summary
The Persians series evolved from the Seaforms series in 1985, when the glassblower Martin Blanwith carried out experimental sessions under Dale Chihuly’s direction. The first examples were reminiscent of the tiny core-formed bottles of ancient Egypt and Persia. The series then developed into a range of widely differing shapes. The outer container forms were often of enormous size.

These pieces are each decorated with lines of thin, trailed glass. The piece was then blown into a ribbed mould leaving the ‘spines’ of thicker glass and then fully blown to shape. The outer form was spun out into a huge disk before finally being shaped by gravity and manipulated by hand.
Bibliographic references
  • Hawkins Opie, Jennifer (ed.). Chihuly at the V&A. London: V&A Publications in association with Portland Press, 2001.
  • Object History File
Collection
Accession number
C.108:1 to 8-2001

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Record createdFebruary 12, 2002
Record URL
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