Shallow wide-rimmed bowl c. 1910

This shallow wide-rimmed bowl was made with glass by Stuart Glass Limited, and just look at those translucent greens that seem to bloom like floating waterlilies. I imagine the glassblower working with molten glass, coaxing it with heat and breath, spinning and shaping this vessel. It’s always a delicate balance of intention and chance. It is such a cool process! There is a push and pull to it: you want the glass to do something but then it has a mind of its own. I love the contrast between the sleek, transparent glass and the concentrated depth of the green swirls. They feel like a series of eyes peering back at you, or portals into another dimension. I can feel the warmth and fluidity of the material, almost hear the hiss of the furnace. There is something meditative and kind of psychedelic about the piece, reminding me of some of Dale Chihuly's vessels, maybe. Glasswork, like painting, explores the boundaries of material and form. It's about embracing the unexpected and finding beauty in the process. I'm so impressed by artists who master the medium!