Mrs.Sco finally...

[ScoPro]

...got her art glass bowl.

Some of y'all may remember a couple of years ago I said something about getting her a Dale Chihuly piece for a centerpiece on her antique clawfoot oak dining table. Well, after extensive research I discovered that Chihuly does not make the vast majority of the glass objects produced by his studio. Almost everything is made by his apprentices and sold with his mark on them. Didn't see how that was particulary desireable considering the mid 4 figure prices he demands, so I dropped that idea early last year.

Today we were in Wimberly, Texas - a local art community - to do some crapshopping when we decided to drive a few miles outside the little village to visit the Wimberly Glass Works. Whilst perusing their modest showrooms I spoted a nice art glass bowl in the colors that Mrs.Sco holds so dear, cobalt blue & clear at a very reasonable price (about 90% less than the price of a Chihuly). She really was taken by the beautiful piece, so we made the purchase which now sits in the center of her table. She's very happy with it......and so is my wallet.

The bowl is 14" in diameter and is styled like this one (but without the other colors besides blue & clear):

 

[BattleshipTexas]

I wouldn't want anything in a 4 figure price range that a visiting dog or kid could break.

 

[Napoleon]

Chihuly doesn't make ANY of his glass stuff. He had an accident (motorcycle I think) nearly 30 years ago and lost sight in one eye. That's why he wears a patch. He doesn't do any of the glass work. Too dangerous.

Supposedly his apprentices also make stuff on the side that they sell for 10% of Chihuly's cost.

I used to spend time at the Dallas art gallery that peddled his crap in the mid-'90s. Sometimes I'd have to shove tens of thousands of dollars of that crap out of the way so I could eat lunch. It was the biggest cash cow that gallery had, but everyone who worked there thought that the **** was a total joke. Occasionally a bowl would break and no one gave a ****. They'd just call Washington to let them know.

There are a bunch of Chihuly's in the Dallas Museum of Art. There is a plaque saying that some family donated the work. Well actually, they only donated $100,000, which basically paid to have the stuff installed. Chihuly basically donated the work as a permanent advertisement for his junk.

For a while in the mid-'90s, he was moving over $5,000,000 worth of glass a year. That is INSANE for a living artist. He also occasionally would smear paint on a large canvas and sign it. That brought in about $20,000 a pop and took all of an hour or two.

I'm glad that you didn't buy the crap. Colored glass can look nice, but there is no reason to spend thousands of dollars that will be about as rare as a Honda Civic by the time Chihuly passes away.

 

[ScoPro]

Tell me about it. I also read where Chihuly treated his apprentices like **** & indentured servants.

Sounds like he mass produces his product like Picasso did.

 

[big_fat_horn]

I have a ten year old son. A bowl like that would last about 48 hours in my house before ending up as a million little shards on the floor.

 

[ScoPro]

We're empty nesters and our grandkids are in high school...so they don't mess with knicknacks.

I never can find the TV remote after they visit though.

 

[GT WT]

You have grandkids in high school? Five years from now you'll have great gradkids. They'll break your bowl.

 

[ScoPro]

Most likely I'll be dead in 5 years, so "it don't make a ****".

 

[zzzz]

"Arrr, so ye scallywags be wantin' a bowl."

Looks like Mike Leach on a bad hair day.