Trilith III
Artist
Heike Brachlow
(German, born 1970)
CultureGerman
Date2013
MediumCast glass in three parts
Dimensions8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2
Credit LineGift of Gwen and Jerome A. Paulson
Object number2021.12.4
Not on view
DescriptionThe three-part cast and stacked artwork Trilith III by Heike Brachlow consists of a solid rectangular block of transparent lavender-gray glass that is full of small air bubbles. This section rests at an angle on top of a smaller squared block of translucent burnt-scarlet glass that has a small cutout in order to help balance the lavender-gray block on top. A second translucent burnt-scarlet glass block with a cutout balances on top of the central block. The burnt-scarlet glasses have no air bubbles, and look velvety or satin in their texture. The artist’s signature is a simple incised HB on the base of the lower burnt-scarlet block. ProvenanceThese four artworks come from the private collection of Jerome and Gwen Paulson of Alexandria, VA, and represent the second group of works to be realized from the Paulson’s Promised Gift of 21 total glass artworks (the Promised Gift paperwork was signed in 2020, and the donation is intended to be spaced out over a number of years, beginning in 2020). The Paulsons visited the Chrysler Museum of Art in October 2019 as part of a glass and ceramics art tour with the James Renwick Alliance of Washington, D.C., the auxiliary group of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery; the group visited the Chrysler Museum and was given a tour of the glass galleries and temporary glass exhibit (contemporary stained glass by Judith Schaechter) by the Barry Curator of Glass, Carolyn Swan Needell. The Paulsons afterwards called Needell on the telephone to express their very positive impression of the Museum, its glass collection and glass curator, and offered the Chrysler the opportunity to visit their home to select glass artworks from their personal collection for addition to the Chrysler as a promised gift. Needell visited the Paulson home in November 2019; a list of 21 objects was agreed upon with the Paulsons, after conferring with Director Erik Neil. Neil and Needell “visited” the Paulsons during a Zoom call in May 2020, being unable to visit and view the artworks in person due to the coronavirus pandemic. Gerome and Gwen Paulson purchased this work from Bullseye Gallery of Portland, Oregon, in 2013. Suggested retail at the time was £1,140 (about $1,500).
Boston & Sandwich Glass Co.
