The Allure and Artistry of Glass Hare Platters

The Unique Allure of Hare Platters

Hare platters have become an intriguing genre of art glass, capturing the imagination of collectors and inspiring artists to push the boundaries of glassblowing technique. With their elongated, angular profiles and distinctive features, these platters provide a canvas to showcase skilled craftsmanship, artistic expression, and the striking fluidity of hot glass.

The Origins of Hare Platters

The hare platter design is attributed to famous glass artist Dale Chihuly, who spearheaded the Studio Glass movement in the 1960s and 70s. Inspired by the speed and dynamism of running hares, Chihuly envisioned these thin, irregular platters with ears, haunches, and feet to emulate the animal in full motion.

To create this vision, Chihuly and his team developed an innovative blowing technique, quickly inflating the molten glass into a thin, flat pancake shape. The rapid inflation results in subtle ridges, ripples, and wrinkles in the surface, emphasizing the sense of speed and activity. Chihuly then pulled and stretched the glass into angular protrusions to suggest anatomical features like haunches, legs, ears, and a head.

The Artistry Behind Hare Platters

Producing hare platters requires great finesse, control, and timing. It all starts with gathering a molten mass of glass onto the end of a blowpipe. The gaffer then rolls it across a steel table, shaping it into a cylinder, before inflation can begin. Working swiftly, the glass blower blows a quick, intense burst of air into the pipe, forcing the hot glass outward into a thin, flat shape nearly instantaneously.

The platter is then transferred onto a punty rod while still extremely hot and malleable. At this point, the glassblower can create the hare’s characteristic features by pulling, paddling, and shaping the soft glass. The ears are formed by pinching two points together then pulling outward. Paddling between these points creates the animal’s haunches, while thinner protrusions are stretched out to suggest feet.

A ridge is often created along the platter’s edge by folding the thin glass over itself. Subtle crimps and wrinkles form organically across the surface due to the rapid inflation. These details enliven the form and speak to the hare’s quick, animated spirit. The finishing touches may include rolling the snout, creating the eyes, and giving texture to the fur with additional tooling.

The Artistic Possibilities of Hare Platters

Contemporary glass artists have taken the hare platter concept in exciting new directions, exploring innovative shapes, sizes, colors, and surface textures. While Chihuly’s platters were typically stark white, modern examples showcase stunning polychrome designs, painterly patterns, and metallic or iridescent finishes.

Some artists play with more abstract interpretations, using the hare motif as a springboard for experimentation. Platters may feature distorted proportions, stylized details, or minimal shaping at the rear, showcasing the unique rhythms and movement inherent in the rapid inflation technique.

Hare platters have also grown much larger in scale, some measuring over three feet long. These monumental pieces make a dramatic sculptural statement on their own. Other artists stack multiple platters together, creating colorful, kinetic tower forms.

The Allure of Hare Motifs in Glass

There are several key reasons why hare themes resonate so strongly in art glass:

• Their angular, energetic shapes perfectly capture the fast, fluid medium of hot glass.
• The rapid inflation technique vividly communicates the speed and dynamism of a running hare.
• Hares have fascinating symbolic associations with rebirth, abundance, femininity, and the lunar cycle in various cultures.
• Their whimsical, animated forms allow artists to showcase their technical skills with detailed tooling.
• The ears, haunches, feet, and other features provide graphic, visually engaging shapes.

With their blend of whimsy, dynamism, and technical sophistication, hare-themed platters and sculptures continue to enchant glass art enthusiasts around the world.

The Practical Perks of Hare Platters

Beyond their visual appeal as art objects, functional hare platters offer some great practical benefits for everyday use:

Distinctive Tableware

A handmade glass hare platter instantly livens up any tablescape. The organic, freeform shape makes an artistic statement without the need for any further décor. The transparent glass and subtle surface textures also beautifully showcase whatever food or flowers are placed on top.

Durable Materials

While their delicate appearance may seem fragile, hare platters are often made from very durable borosilicate or lead-free crystal glass. This means they can withstand years of regular use without chipping or cracking. Simple hand washing is all that’s needed to maintain their pristine condition.

Artful Storage

The large, flat surface area makes hare platters ideal for storing assorted trinkets. Scatter pearls, sea shells, decorative stones, or flower petals across the platter to create an organic still life display. The contents will add interest and color when the platter is on display.

Focal Points

The unique profiles make these platters eye-catching focal points in any room’s décor. They can occupy a console or coffee table. Or several can be arranged in a cabinet or mounted on the wall as art. Keep the surroundings simple and neutral to let the platter design take center stage.

Gift Giving

For the art lover or collector, a hand-blown hare platter makes a wonderful gift. The one-of-a-kind, artisanal qualities give it great significance and meaning. And the whimsical design brings a touch of lightness and cheer to any environment.

With their exquisite craftsmanship and whimsical animal themes, hare platters and sculptures hold wide appeal as art objects and functional glassware. Their flowing, energetic forms encapsulate the very essence of hot glass as a stunning medium of expression. For glass artisans and collectors, the varied interpretations of the running hare offer endless avenues to showcase creative vision and technical mastery.

FAQs

How are hare platters created?

Hare platters are made through an innovative rapid inflation technique. The gaffer shapes a glob of molten glass into a cylinder then blows a quick, intense burst of air into the pipe. This forces the hot glass to expand rapidly into a thin, flat pancake shape. The glassblower then forms the hare features by pulling, paddling and shaping the soft glass.

Who pioneered the hare platter design?

Famous glass artist Dale Chihuly is credited with inventing the hare platter concept back in the 1960s and 70s. He was inspired by the speed and dynamism of running hares and experimented with new techniques to emulate this in glass.

What types of glass are used?

Borosilicate and lead-free crystal glass are common choices for hare platters. These glasses have excellent thermal shock resistance and durability for functional use while also possessing brilliant clarity and radiance.

How large can they be?

Contemporary hare platters have grown bigger in scale, with some measuring over three feet long. The rapid inflation technique allows for very large, thin pieces of glass to be achieved.

Why are hare themes so popular?

The angular, energetic hare motif beautifully captures the fluid nature of hot glass. The animal symbolism also resonates with many cultures and allows artists to showcase detailed tooling skills.