Topic: Vase - Clear body with trailed olive green - ID = Kent Le Grand - WA

[misha]

New addition to the collection from an Op Shop.
Vase - Clear body with trailed olive green - 140mm H x 130mm maximum D

I think I've found the ID by trying to decipher signature on base.
Looks like a WA based artist: Kent Le Grande

Not sure if Kent is still with us. Searching the net there was an early blog comment that he was working one handed/armed... and later that a crucible failure had him out of production.... also that he was now 'late'.

If someone on GMB has any of his works can you please confirm if the signature on my vase is Kent Le Grande?

[brewster]

Yes, that is the signature of Kent LeGrand. It looks like the piece is dated 2001.

Remarkably, after losing an arm in a motorcycle accident he went back to glass blowing, often working unaided. He died of cancer in 2011.

That's a nice piece and a big find from a charity shop.

Trevor

[misha]

Thanks Trevor,

Looking and reading further I can now realise the significance of the man, highly regarded in the arts community. Seems to be 2 variants on the fellows name... with or without the letter 'e' in Le Grand.

https://www.facebook.com/AnnualMargaretRiverArtAuction/posts/514138265314894

It was filthy, been used as a vase and residual organic matter in and out. 
A good soak and rinse had it looking far better.
Cost... less than a pack of filthy cigarettes. 

This has an interesting 'raw' feel to it. The clear base is your smooth shiny glass and the green applied trailing, gathered in 6 places around the body, has an 'organic' matt texture to it.  The more I look at it the more I like it now, even if it isn't of vivid colouration.

Kinda deserves a better photo to document one of his works.
On the list of things to do eventually - get an album of my Aussie glass up on the site for reference.

[brewster]

Hey Mods. Please correct the spelling of the name in your amended header for the thread. His name is Kent Le Grand, with no final letter "e". [Mod: done]

Misha is correct that the name sometimes is quoted with the incorrect spelling adding an "e". That may be better French, but it is but is clearly mistaken as the spelling of the artist's name, as his own signature reveals. See the photo in the OP and the two clear images below.

(I also stand corrected after writing it in Reply #1 without a space between "Le" and "Grand".)

Trevor