Mark Matthews (Born 1954) American, Art Glass Sphere and Clear Stand. Intricate twists and swirls throughout in a myriad of colors. Balls rests on base with an inwardly curved top to allow for it to rest perfectly. Signed on bottom of sphere and dated 2001. 

Size: (sphere) 3 1/2 in. 

On Base: (height) 5 1/2 in. 

Mark Matthews was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1954. As a child he became obsessed with collecting marbles, fascinated by the sheer variety and sizes of them. While studying business at Kent State he discovered a molten glassworks program and decided to audit the course before switching his major in 1974. He went on to earn his MFA in glassmaking from Ohio University, and set up a home studio and gallery in Archbold, Ohio, where he gradually came to focus almost exclusively on the creation of art glass spheres. Incorporating modern and ancient techniques into his works, he has since produced tens of thousands of spheres, particularly his extremely popular animal skins line in the late 1990s. Today he continues to work with just one assistant, utilizing tools and equipment he has built or reconfigured specifically for the precise creation of his favorite shape. His works are on permanent display in museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.