Artist: Dale Chihuly
Title: Sapphire Macchia
Medium: Hand Blown Glass
Dimensions: 18"h x 29"w x 27"d
Year: 2015
Inscription: Signed "Dale Chihuly 15"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Chihuly Studio Registration Code: 15.399.m1
Provenance: Halcyon London, 2016 / Private Collection
Created in 2015, "Sapphire Macchia" exemplifies Dale Chihuly's sustained exploration of chromatic intensity, scale, and organic form within his long-running Macchia series. Initiated in the early 1980s, the series reflects Chihuly's objective of expanding the full spectrum of the glass palette, producing works defined by saturated color fields, irregular silhouettes, and richly modulated surface effects. In this context, "Sapphire Macchia" functions as both vessel and sculptural object, continuing the series' investigation into the expressive potential of blown glass.
The work's large-scale format measuring 18 x 29 x 27 inches [46 x 74 x 68.5 cm] amplifies its visual impact while preserving the fluid, seemingly spontaneous contours characteristic of Chihuly's studio practice. The deeply scalloped rim undulates in irregular rhythm, reinforcing a sense of movement and asymmetry that resists classical vessel geometry and aligns instead with biomorphic abstraction.
Color operates as the primary structural and perceptual driver of the composition. A luminous sapphire-blue interior is set against a marbled red exterior, accented by a vibrant yellow lip wrap. This high-contrast palette typifies Chihuly's mature Macchia works, in which unexpected chromatic pairings are deployed to heighten optical vibration and spatial depth. The interplay of opaque and translucent glass further intensifies these effects, producing shifting readings of surface, volume, and light depending on the viewer's position.
Executed through the collaborative processes of the Chihuly Studio, "Sapphire Macchia" reflects the artist's broader engagement with nature-derived forms, referencing floral structures, marine organisms, and geological formations. The work is signed "Dale Chihuly" and bears studio registration number 15.399.m1. It is accompanied by a Gallery Certificate of Authenticity and has documented provenance from Halcyon London, where it was acquired in 2016, to a private collection.
About Dale Chihuly
American artist Dale Chihuly is known for pioneering large-scale blown glass sculptures and redefining the role of glass within contemporary art. Through monumental installations, vivid color palettes, and biomorphic forms, Chihuly has become one of the most recognizable and influential figures in the international studio glass movement.
Born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1941, Chihuly studied at the University of Washington, where he developed an interest in glass as an artistic medium. He later earned advanced degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Rhode Island School of Design. A Fulbright Fellowship brought him to Venice, Italy, in 1968, where he studied traditional glassmaking techniques and the collaborative methods practiced on the island of Murano.
Chihuly's work challenges conventional perceptions of glass by emphasizing scale, movement, and environmental interaction. Rather than producing functional vessels, he creates immersive experiences that integrate sculpture, architecture, and light. His installations frequently respond to their surroundings, appearing in museums, conservatories, historic sites, and outdoor landscapes around the world.
Among his most celebrated bodies of work are the Macchia, Seaforms, Persians, Chandeliers, and Towers series, each characterized by expressive forms and technical complexity. Since the late 1970s, Chihuly has directed teams of skilled artisans in the creation of his works, employing a collaborative approach inspired by Venetian glassmaking traditions.
In addition to his artistic practice, Chihuly co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State, helping establish it as a leading center for glass education and innovation. Today, his artworks are represented in prominent museum collections globally and continue to influence generations of artists working in glass, sculpture, and installation art.
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