SEA FORM GLASS PIECE BY DALE CHIHULY / SIGNED / 1987 Miniature Remnant from Larger Original / Pristine, Rare Start Price USD 100.00 Current Price USD 440.00 Time Left - Bid Count 17 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, August 25, 2008 End Time Monday, September 01, 2008 Location Redmond, Washington See more about 'SEA FORM GLASS PIECE BY DALE CHIHULY / SIGNED / 1987' Description DALE CHIHULY Sea Form, 1987   I had originally listed this small Sea Form by Dale Chihuly in July, but a challenge was raised that the signature (printed in block, not written in cursive) was not in keeping with Chihuly’s pieces.  When I could not resolve the issue quickly, I ended the auction early.  Since that time I have been in contact with the original owner of this piece and have been assured that it is authentic, did come from a larger work, and is by Dale Chihuly.   Unfortunately, no documentation exists to authenticate this miniature Sea Form ~ so you will just have to accept that I am representing it honorably, but without provenance.  You will have to decide how much it is worth to you as a collector because I am not able to provide authentication.  That is my full disclaimer.   Its history as I know it: This is the surviving remnant of an originally 8-piece Sea Form glass collection from the series by Dale Chihuly.  The other pieces did not survive the fall, at least, as I was told, not intact.  This, the smallest Sea Form, comes from the estate of a prominent Seattle family who gave it to me (as I collect and we are very close friends) from whence it finds itself at auction.   From his book Form From Fire, Dale Chihuly writes of this evolution:    “The Sea Forms seemed to come about by accident, as much of my work does ~ by chance.  We were experimenting with some ribbed molds when I was doing the Basket series.  By blowing the pieces into ribbed molds, it gave them more strength.  It’s sort of like corrugated cardboard ~ or actually, like sea shells themselves, which are very often ribbed.  Then the Baskets started looking like sea forms, so I changed the name of the series to Sea Forms, which suited me just fine in that I love to walk along the beach and go to the ocean.  And glass itself, of course, is so much like water.  If you let it go on its own, it almost ends up looking like something that came from the sea.”  (Dale Chihuly, 1992)   The given title of this piece I do not know, but as all the pieces are named by the colors involved it would seem to have been something like Plum Lavender with Silver Lip Wraps.  The piece is flawless and in original condition (10 of 10), and measures 2.75” (70mm) along its longest axis, 2.50”(65mm)  in width, and 1.50” (37mm) in height. This piece is “signed” in block lettering, not cursive: “CHIHULY,  87 “.   I am a glass collector but not of partial pieces, though this is certainly my favorite miniature even if it wasn’t intended to become that.  Please ask any questions and I will try to answer them as quickly and as fully as possible.   Payment must be through PayPal and I will only ship to a PayPal verified address.  Shipping through USPS Priority and full insurance will be included in the final purchase price (per se, free) to any address within the United States.  To Canada, the price will be $20; to Europe, $50.  The piece will be extremely well packaged.     This is an exceptionally affordable way to own a piece of Chihuly glass from a period of this great artist’s work that is well-recognized and highly collectible.  I have set no reserve, but the original installation was valued at $30,000 before the wind blew in from the terrace.    Thanks very much for your interest.  Sincerely, ARHC   Place a Bid!