CONTEMPORARY HANDMADE, Paul Stankard. A Paul Stankard Botanical Orb. A three-dimensional sphere containing blueberries, flowers, white moss, honey bees, a human figure, and several murrini cane sections. A tour de force of contemporary torchwork. The murrini sections include "SEEDS", "Thank You Lord" and a signature cane reading "Paul Stankard". The human figure is unclothed (recently Paul began putting loincloths on his figures). Close examination of the torchwork shows his realistic multi-hued leaves, the black filament stamen on his flowers, pollen collected on the legs of one of the bees, and his marvelous depiction of moss. This is a stunning example of the artistry of Paul Stankard (American, b.1943), a renowned glass artist best known for his incredible paperweights. Stankards's work is immediately recognizable by the remarkably lifelike designs suspended within. He is often considered the father of modern art glass paperweights. Before him, floral art glass paperweights usually featured brightly colored, botanically incorrect designs. Stankard dedicated himself to creating highly detailed, highly realistic creations. The extraordinary lifelike depiction of plants, flowers, and insects is a remarkable achievement in glassblowing. Paul Stankard orbs are very hard to find. This is a huge sphere. It is signed with a signature cane but is undated. Based on the spiritual murrini cane in the sphere, and the unclothed human figure, it is likely 2015-2023. 4" 4". Mint (9.9).

Mint