table

Glass-encrusted furniture was popular during the last half of the 18th century. In the 19th century, some furniture was made almost entirely of large pieces of glass. The Imperial Glassworks in St. Petersburg, Russia, created tables, stands, urns, and chandeliers for palaces. This cut glass table, designed by Thomas de Tomon, was made at the Imperial factory about 1808. It was probably a present from Czar Alexander I to his mother or sister. The table consists of a single slab of blue glass cut in the shape of an octagon, resting on a single piece of amber-colored glass decorated with spiral cutting. The square base of amber glass is so dark that it appears black. These components are held together and embellished by elements of gilded bronze. A ewer and a basin of blue and colorless glass, wheel-cut with diamonds and mounted in ormolu, were made to accompany the table originally.