Purple Finch in the Snow

Notice of Upcoming Content and Access Change

The Museum is working on the future of our online collections access. A new version will be available later in 2023. During this transition period, the current version of the Collections Browser may have reduced functionality and data may be not be updated. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For any questions or concerns, please contact us.

What is AAT?

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

Object Name: 
Paperweight
Title: 
Purple Finch in the Snow
Maker(s): 
Place Made: 
United States, NH, New Boston
Accession Number: 
82.4.4
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 4.6 cm, Diam (max): 7 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1982
Credit Line: 
Gift of Theresa and Arthur Greenblatt
Web Description: 
Rick Ayotte (American, b. 1944) is well known for his realistic portrayals of nature and wildlife. He began his career as a scientific glassblower in 1962. Encouraged by his friend, the master paperweight maker Paul Stankard, he made his first paperweight in 1978 which depicted a brilliant red cardinal sitting on a branch. Ayotte focused on making birds in their environment until 1983, when he began to illustrate flowers and other nature subjects in glass.

More Info

Department: 
Postwar and Contemporary
Provenance: 
Greenblatt, Arthur, Source
Greenblatt, Theresa, Source
Ayotte, Roland "Rick" (American, b. 1944), Source
Category: 
Paperweights
Studio Glass
Color: 
brown
colorless
red
white
Technique: 
lampworking
Material: 
glass
Copyright: 
© Roland "Rick" Ayotte

Description

Primary Description: 
Paperweight, "Purple Finch in the Snow". Colorless, red, white, brown non-lead glasses; flameworked and cased. Domed, circular shape, enclosing a lampworked figure of a bird (purple finch) with bright red head, breast and back, white underside, and striated tan wings and tail; standing on a snow-covered branch, with another branch above; scattered white snow in the background; polished, concave base; signed on the side (scratched, script letters) "Ayotte 13/50 '82".

Exhibitions (2)

Worlds Within: The Evolution of the Paperweight
Venue(s)
Corning Museum of Glass 2006-11-16 through 2007-03-18
West Bridge Exhibit
Masterpieces of American Glass
Venue(s)
Museum of Applied Arts 1990-07-27 through 1990-09-02
State Hermitage Museum 1990-09-15 through 1990-10-21
Museum of the State Institute of Glass 1990-11-02 through 1991-01-04
 

Publications (4)

Paperweight Pals (2012) illustrated, pp. 2, 21; BIB# 130749
The Corning Museum of Glass, A Guide to the Collections (2001) (2001) illustrated, p. 139; BIB# 68214
Masterpieces of American Glass (1990) illustrated, pp. 70, 96, pl. 112; BIB# 33046
Shedevry amerikanskogo stekla: iz kollektsij Muzeia Stekla v Korninge i Muzeia Iskusstva v Tolido (1990) illustrated, p. 104, #116; BIB# 34475