Chihuly was inspired to create his iconic Basket series after visiting the Washington State Historical Society in 1977. It was there that he discovered and became enamored with the slumped forms of Native American woven baskets. Seeking to capture the sensual shapes of these woven forms in glass, Chihuly began experimenting using heat, gravity, and movement. Chihuly’s early glass Baskets featured warm earth tones, in keeping with their woven inspiration. Later, he began experimenting with a greater variety of colors and began adding a contrasting color for the lip wrap, resulting in the series’ modern expression.
The 2020 Hyacinth Basket highlights Chihuly’s sophisticated use of color. The intensity of the cobalt lip wrap gives way to translucency at the bottom of the elements, creating a halo of radiant light beneath the sculpture. The contemporary monochrome color palette and the dynamic relationship between the two nested Baskets make this petite set one of the most elegant of this series.
Vibrant and dynamic, Studio Edition Glass Artwork celebrates Chihuly’s creative spirit with quintessential compositions that span his career. Each handblown Edition is signed by the artist and accompanied by an acrylic vitrine with a black base for display. These pieces vary slightly in size, color, and shape.