Stacked Books Mug Appraisal

Studio Art Glass 'Stacked Books' Mug

This unique piece of studio art glass is a hand-blown mug designed to resemble a stack of books. The body features a cylindrical yet irregular form with pronounced horizontal indentations that simulate the individual spines of four distinct volumes. The color palette is rich and earthy, utilizing amber, cobalt blue, and clear glass with internal opaque white and yellow banding to mimic the edges of pages. A clear glass handle is applied to the side. The construction shows high levels of craftsmanship, with a thick-walled design and a smooth, glossy fire-polished finish. The piece reflects a late 20th-century or early 21st-century contemporary craft aesthetic, common among independent glass artists. While no maker's mark is immediately visible in the image, the stylized 'stack' is a hallmark of decorative novelty art glass. The condition appears excellent with no visible chips, cracks, or heavy scratching, though light shelf wear on the base would be expected given its location. The irregular shape provides a tactile grip, though the primary value lies in its whimsical, sculptural design rather than purely utilitarian function.