Vase, Teapot Vase

WHERE WAS IT MADE?This glass sculpture was made in Marquis’ studio, located on an island in Puget Sound, in Washington State.WHO WAS THE ARTIST?Richard Marquis received both his Bachelors and Masters from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1969 he earned a Fulbright Grant to study in Venice, Italy, becoming one of the first Americans ever to work in a Venetian glass factory. While working in the Venini glass factory, Marquis learned to create inlaid glasswork and to use ancient Venetian glassmaking techniques. His pieces have been showcased in museums and collections all over the United States and internationally. Marquis is still making and exhibiting glasswork. Click here to see examples of his recent work.HOW WAS IT MADE?This Teapot Goblet was made with a technique called glass blowing. The decorative details on the teapot are made from thin colored glass canes (rods) that have been twisted together and carefully manipulated to form a lattice-like structure. Marquis learned this technique, called zanfirico, while studying glass making in Venice, Italy. Click here to see how the canes are made.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?Marquis creates colorful and humorous glass objects, while also referencing and playing with historical forms. In this piece, which is part of a series, a pale yellow goblet sits atop a colorful striped teapot. If you look carefully, you will see that the goblet, teapot lid, and teapot are all fused together, so that the teapot is non-functional. The teapot is set on a stem like foot made from vibrant red orange glass. Notice the small checkerboard tile on the goblet. This detail is often a feature of Marquis’ teapot goblets. Marquis has been inspired by the work of ceramicists Jim Melchert and Richard Shaw and the cartoonist Robert Crumb, famous for his satirical humor.