Hermit Crab

Copied Tim Jerman, Hermit Crab, 2000, flameworked glass, 5 3⁄4 x 5 3⁄8 x 6 3⁄4 in. (14.7 x 13.8 x 17.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund, 2000.26.1

Artwork Details

Title
Hermit Crab
Artist
Date
2000
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
5 3⁄4 x 5 3⁄8 x 6 3⁄4 in. (14.7 x 13.8 x 17.1 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
flameworked glass
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — fish — crab
Object Number
2000.26.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2000.26.1

Artwork Description

Tim Jerman began his career as a glassblower. In 1981, following a spinal cord injury, he shifted his studio practice to flameworking. With a handheld torch, he shaped colorful canes of glass into fantastical marine life, like this hermit crab, peeking out from its portable home.

This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022

Luce Center Label

Tim Jerman’s intricate sculptures of aquatic life reflect his passion for marine biology. As the hermit crab emerges, its vivid blue stripes and spots pop out against the muted, natural colors of the shell.