Cafe

Object NameSculpture

Maker Dan Dailey (American, b. 1947)

Made FromVitrolite glass, sheet glass; brass, steel

Date1979

Place MadeUnited States, MA, Amesbury

Techniquecut, polished, sandblasted, assembled

SizeOverall H: 75.5 cm, W: 54.6 cm

Accession Number80.4.63

Credit LinePurchased with the aid of funds from the National Endowment for the Arts

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Exhibitions

Masterpieces of American Glass

On ViewBen W. Heineman Sr. Family Gallery of Contemporary Glass.

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Dan Dailey enjoys telling stories, and his work is strongly narrative. He is a versatile artist who makes vessels and sculptures as well as large-scale murals and architectural interiors. Dailey’s work is based on his observations of human nature and personality types, and while his work is humorous, it is also satirical. He says, “My pieces have kind of a cartoon aspect to them, which I find has been a constant in my work, a constant interest in simple line and the ability to create a caricature of a concept.”

Physical DescriptionFrosted, colorless, black, green, flesh tone and red tinted plate and tile glasses; steel backing; brass hardware; cast flat glass, sandblasted, cut, polished, cemented, bolted; blown wine glass. (a) Male torso with hat, seated at table with checkerboard tablecloth; figure holds wine glass in left hand; (d) hat consists of black glass oval and half circle with applied brass strip with six holes as headband; glasses are dark green glass triangular forms in brass frame bolted to face; (b) left profile face is green tinted sandblasted glass, with brass bracket at neckline bolted to backing; collar is oval of fleshtone glass; chest is two pieces of light green tinted glass representing shirt or vest, with three black glass buttons applied to left panel; arms consist of two pieces of light green glass; hands of sandblasted, pale green tinted glass, held to arms with brass bracket; drinking glass with cylindrical bowl, solid stem and flat disk foot is pinned to left hand; (c) ruby red insert in glass represents red wine or liquor; tablecloth consists of alternating black and white tiles in diamond shapes, cemented to supporting base.
Provenance

Source Portnoy Gallery - 1980-09-29