Copper the Color of Magic

Copper the Color of Magic

 
Print
 
Object Name: 
Sculpture
Title: 
Copper the Color of Magic
Department
Modern
Place Made: 
England, London
Date: 
1989
Color
AAT
colorless
AAT
turquoise
AAT
cobalt blue
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 23.7 cm
Accession Number: 
89.2.18
Credit Line: 
4th Rakow Commission
Location: 
Not on Display
Description
Colorless, appearing translucent white, wine-red, turquoise, cobalt blue, amethyst glasses, enamel, granite, red earth, feathers, sterling silver, copper bronzing powder; pate de verre (finely ground glass layered into a two-part refractory mold, fused as one piece in an electric kiln), mixed-media assemblage. Mixed-media composition of four parts assembled into two units; egg-shaped granite boulder naturally split into two equal sections sitting side by side (not touching) each linked with a pâte de verre element: "left" half (female), glass section sits on top of boulder via a concealed silver mount, formed of "white" pâte de verre in assymetrial two-lobed vessel, one open seam edged in black and wine-red and ringed with small feathers covered in bronzing powder standing in miniature springs, upper lobe edge and underside has blue and black coloration; "right" (male) half, pâte de verre tear-drop-shaped boat or pod form, heavy end rests on ground, pointed end rests on granite in chiseled groove and is tipped with a single bronze feather just touching the granite, ovoid slit opening edged in turqoise, body composed of broad even bands of glass color in wine-red, cobalt blue, black, and amethyst; unsigned.
Label Text
Diana Hobson began working in pâte de verre in the 1970s, and her experiments with the technique have helped other artists to employ it in new ways. Her interest in pâte de verre was to be able to make it as thin and transparent as possible. Her vessels are characterized by their diminutive size and careful, almost obsessive, placement and control of color. In this sculpture, Hobson combines her cast glass forms with copper and stone, literally bonding her precious and delicate forms to ancient elements found in nature.
Provenance
Hobson, Diana ((British, b. 1943)), Former Collection
1989
The Past Ten Years of Contemporary Glass (1996) p. 602, fig. 1; p. 610; BIB# AI48527
Seven Steps (1993-07) p. 88 ff., ill.;
Title Unknown (British Crafts Magazine) (1990) p. 10;
Recent Important Acquisitions, 32 (1990) illustrated, p. 208, #51; BIB# AI74245
The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 1989 (1990) illustrated, pp. 6, 11;
1989 Rakow Commission: Old Technique, New Direction (1989) illustrated
Title Unknown (Glass Art Society Journal) (1989) cover;

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The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) (r) is a structured vocabulary for generic concepts related to art and architecture. It was developed by The Getty Research Institute to help research institutions become consistent in the terminology they use.Learn More