Tabac Basket with Brown Threads and Lip Wrap, 1998

Dale Chihuly  

Artist: Dale Chihuly Title: Tabac Basket with Brown Threads and Lip Wrap Medium: Hand Blown Glass Size: 5" x 9.5" Year: Circa 1970s Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity Dale Chihuly's Tabac Basket with Brown Threads and Lip Wrap is a quintessential example of the artist's groundbreaking exploration of form and technique during the 1970s. Measuring 5" x 9.5", this handblown glass vessel is distinguished by its organic, undulating shape, subtle amber-toned translucence, and delicate brown thread-like patterns that seem to dance across its surface. The piece is finished with a gracefully applied brown lip wrap, emphasizing the fluidity and elegance of Chihuly's aesthetic. The Tabac Basket series represents an important turning point in Chihuly's career. Inspired by the pliable forms of Native American baskets that had slumped over time, Chihuly sought to translate this visual softness into glass, a medium traditionally associated with rigidity. The result was a series of asymmetrical, gravity-defying vessels that marked a departure from the symmetrical forms of his earlier Cylinders and Soft Cylinders. Each piece captures the spontaneity of the glassblowing process, showcasing Chihuly's ability to embrace imperfections and natural distortions as integral to the final work. This piece's warm, earthy palette is characteristic of Chihuly's early works, which often featured more subdued tones compared to the vibrant colors that would later define his style. The intricate brown threads and flowing patterns foreshadow the artist's lifelong fascination with layering color and texture to create depth and movement. Created during a period when Chihuly's studio operated on a much smaller scale, early Tabac Baskets like this one are highly sought after by collectors. Their rarity, combined with their historical and artistic significance, makes them prized additions to any collection. This piece is inscribed by the artist and comes with a gallery certificate of authenticity, affirming its place in the legacy of one of the most influential figures in contemporary glass art.