Dale Chihuly Red Basket with Black Lip Wrap Singed Hand-Blown Glass 1995, 1974

Dale Chihuly  

Artist: Dale Chihuly Title: Red Basket with Black Lip Wrap Medium: Hand-Blown Glass Dimensions: 7.5" tall x 9" x 9" Year: 1995 Inscription: Engraved Chihuly A.C.M. and dated 95 Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity Dale Chihuly's Red Basket with Black Lip Wrap (1995) is a striking example from the artist's celebrated Color Series, showcasing his extraordinary ability to translate bold, expressive color into three-dimensional form. Hand-blown with Chihuly's signature spontaneity and fluidity, this sculptural vessel features a glowing, semi-translucent red body contrasted dramatically by a deep black lip wrap—a hallmark technique that punctuates the form and accentuates its delicate contours. The basket's soft, organic shape recalls Chihuly's iconic Basket Series, originally inspired by Northwest Native American weaving traditions. However, in this iteration, color takes center stage. The radiant red glass glows from within, interacting with light and shadow to enhance the sense of movement and delicacy. The black lip wrap adds a powerful visual anchor, framing the edge with elegant restraint and highlighting the work's formal tension between fragility and strength. Engraved on the underside with "Chihuly A.C.M. 95", the piece may have originally been retailed through the American Craft Museum in New York City—an institution now known as the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) and a notable supporter of Chihuly's early glass works. Red Basket with Black Lip Wrap is a luminous and rare example of Chihuly's mastery of form, color, and craft. It stands as both a vibrant visual statement and a tactile celebration of the artist's pioneering role in contemporary glass.