Posted 8 years ago
beyemvey
(214 items)
One of my favorite Virginia glass artists (and Wisconsin for that matter) is the late Kent Forrest Ipsen. The first three photos are of a piece that I purchased a couple of years ago. It is about 6.5" in height and 3.5" in diameter around the top. It is blown in a root beer brown colored glass with pulled streaks of whitish glass near each of the lobes. The base is ground. The form is asymmetrical, and the opening is off center and incurvate. The base is ground flat. The shape reminds me of a mushroom cloud. The seller was not sure, but attributed it as probably being Ipsen's work. I am inclined to agree based upon another item in my collection...
The fourth photo shows a tall vase signed "Kent Forrest Ipsen '74" and I have proudly owned it for many years. It features a similar incurvate, off center opening on top, similarly colored glass, and with pulled designs that also remind me of mushroom clouds. I can't help but wonder if Ipsen was making a statement about nuclear proliferation when he created it. I wrote a story about it here on Collector's weekly about 4 years ago.
So please let me know what you think. Am I right in my belief that these two works are by one artist and from the same period?
Here's the link to my other item...
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/75415-an-early-major-work-by-kent-forrest-ipse
This must be some of the most interesting blown glass I have seen for a long time.
I don't know his work but can see some similarities in the two pieces.