DALLAS, TX.- Designed to occupy the grand hall of a palatial residence, the extravagant Dale Chihuly chandelier offered in Heritage Auctions’ May 4 Design Signature® event is one of the largest Chihuly works ever to cross the auction block.

Measuring 13 feet long and 13 feet in diameter, the one-of-a-kind work by the renowned artist comprises 1,450 pieces of colorless glass, each punctuated with gold and silver overlays and handcrafted by Chihuly’s team at his glass studio in Seattle.

“Known for creating glass sculptures of all scales, including monumental installations at museums and gardens around the world, Chihuly has long used the traditional chandelier form as a medium for creating large-scale sculptures for a domestic setting,” says Brent Lewis, Heritage Auctions’ Director of Design. “This ambitious example is one of the largest and most elaborate works by Chihuly ever to come to auction.”

Commissioned in 2000 for an opulent estate in Omaha, Neb., the striking chandelier is composed of a collection of light-catching glass spirals. Magnificent in scale and design, the rare work is significant for another reason as well: Unlike most Chihuly chandeliers, which lack internal lighting components and must be lit externally, this example is lit from within by a series of neon tubes in green, blue and magenta.

“The way light and color play off each other in this piece makes it brilliant to behold,” Lewis says.

The chandelier, which carries an estimate of $100,000-$150,000, isn’t the only shining example by Chihuly in the May event. The auction also includes a second chandelier (estimate: $50,000-$80,000), this one measuring 6 feet by 5 feet and featuring a cluster of clear glass pieces combined with ones in varying shades of yellow.