Mary Ann "Toots" Zynsky Filet-De-Verre Glass Bowl

Description

Large filet-de-verre vessel bowl by TOOTS ZYNSKY.

This breathtaking glass vessel made in 2003 and titled “Radura” exemplifies the Filet-de-verre … more Large filet-de-verre vessel bowl by TOOTS ZYNSKY.

This breathtaking glass vessel made in 2003 and titled “Radura” exemplifies the Filet-de-verre technique, developed by Zynsky, which translates to “threads of glass.” It showcases her visionary approach to glassmaking, blending fine craftsmanship with artistic expression. The result is a vibrant, intricately crafted piece, with a distinctive texture and a three-dimensional, organic form that captures the essence of her innovative style.

Zynksy went by the name of "Toots" almost from birth. She was raised in Massachusetts and studied at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1973. It was here she was one of a group of pioneering glass artists who studied with Dale Chihuly. In the summer of 1971, she accompanied Chihuly along with fellow RISD students and friends of Chihuly to Washington state where she would participate in the founding and early development of the Pilchuck Glass School.

In 1980 she would become the assistant director and head of the hot shop at the New York Experimental Glass Workshop in New York City, now known as UrbanGlass. While there she experimented with barbed wire and glass which eventually evolved into "spun glass" vessels. Her 1982 vessel titled "Clipped Grass" was her first foray into the use of the filet-de-verre technique she would pioneer and that would soon become her hallmark. less