Each and every time I appraise one of Paul Stankard’s glass pieces, I am awestruck by the intimate realism of the petals of a flower or wings of a bee but look even more closely and you might find roots that are in form of tiny people or small words like “seed” hidden in the design.
Paul Stankard is an American studio glass artist who creates works of stunning beauty. I will never forget the first time I laid eyes on one of his paperweights. I know you are thinking…paperweight… really?? It was in a client’s home on Lookout Mountain with a spectacular brow view, but I only had eyes for the paperweight on the coffee table. We spent the next several minutes discussing Paul Stankard and his eye-popping botanical paperweights.
Each paperweight is a unique microcosm of nature
suspended in clear glass. So lifelike that you feel that you can hear the bees
buzzing around the blooming spring flowers and scattering of blueberries. Paul uses
an ancient European technique of lampworking to create the flowers, insects,
berries and other botanical items for his paperweights. He is assisted by his
daughters, Katherine, Pauline and Christine and his longtime assistant David
Graeber.
Sold by Freeman's Auction, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I will leave you with Paul’s own words about his work. Hopefully, it will inspire you to see one of his pieces in person soon. I promise you won’t forget it.
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