Hopi

Object NameVessels

Artist Lino Tagliapietra (Italian, b. 1934)

Made FromNon-lead glass

Date1996

Techniqueblown with filigree decoration, ground, polished, cased

Size(a) Taller Vessel H: 69.2 cm, W: 19.6 cm, Diam (max): 13.8 cm; (b) Shorter Vessel H: 20 cm, Diam (max): 38.4 cm

Accession Number96.4.166

Credit Line11th Rakow Commission, purchased with funds from the Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Endowment Fund

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Lino Tagliapietra has had a lasting impact on American studio glassblowing. Born on the island of Murano, he worked as an assistant and then as an apprentice in the island's glass factories, where he earned the title of maestro at the age of 21. In 1979, he traveled for the first time to the United States to teach at the Pilchuck Glass School. This was the beginning of an international career and collaborations with noted European and American artists working in glass. After working in the United States and abroad for 10 years, Tagliapietra made the difficult decision to change his artistic focus from design to the production of unique work. Rethinking his craft, he emerged in the 1990s as an influential artist. In recent years, Tagliapietra has divided his studio time between Seattle and Murano. Hopi is inspired by the indigenous art of the American Southwest. Tagliapietra believes that Native American art has made an important and unique contribution to American culture. Hopi's bold and contrasting colors, broad-shouldered forms, and intricate surface patterns recall the Native American ceramics, basketry, and textiles that Tagliapietra admires.

Place Made

United States, WA, Seattle

Physical DescriptionComposition in 2 Parts, "Hopi." Deep translucent red overlaid with amethyst (appearing black), cased in colorless, non-lead glasses; blown with filigree decoration, ground, polished. Two blown vessels, each of red glass with overall decoration of black non-regular, swirling and interlocking concentric lines: (A) Tall flattened vessel with narrow opening with fire polished rim, short neck tapering out slightly to broad shoulder curving to straight-walled body, walls taper in toward very narrow circular base, ground and polished ponti; (B) short rounded vessel (less than half the height of "A"), narrow opening with fire polished rim, extended neck tapering out slightly to swollen broad shoulder curving to straight-walled body and tapering sharply to very narrow circular base; ground and polished pontil; engraved in script on bottom around pontil area of "A": "Lino Tagliapietra/96"; "B" unsigned.
Provenance

Provenance Remark

Provenance information not currently available online. Please check back in the coming weeks.