A glassblower inflates a glass bubble. Another shapes a vessel with large jacks. To the side, an assistant stokes the furnace with firewood. The details of a glass workshop of the late 1700s are rendered on a miniature scale on this gold box, which holds two tiny scent bottles. The presence of a funnel indicates that these flasks were filled or refilled at wish by the owner, who would have treasured the box while rotating the fragrances.
Physical DescriptionPair of Miniature Bottles with Gold Box in the Shape of a Glass Furnace. Colorless non-lead glass, gold, fabric; blown, cut, raised, engraved, enameled, soldered, assembled. (a) Represents glassmaker's furnace; rectangular cross-section with chamfered corners; top hinged of domed shape; octagonal chimney with strap over top, engraved to represent masonry; dome with 4 cowls with masonry and acanthus leaves; band encircles cover below dome, with band of masonry on flat sides below; cover hinged to back of box; pin at front with catch to hold cover; sides of box with masonry and foliage; sides with figures making glass; on front man at glassmaker's chair, one stands blowing on pipe with gather at end, side of oven open above, shows beakers and bottle, narrow ledge below; on left side a figure reaches in opening to withdraw bottle; on reverse a man forms melting pot, figure at right pounds in mortar with opening in furnace beside them holding beakers and bottle with narrow ledge below; last side, man kneels shoving wood in opening at bottom of furnace; opening above contains beaker; the short sides with oval recesses; flat octagonal base with foliate design in center with foliate wreath around edge; box has marks in places: capital "A" in lozenge on side of cover; script "V" in shaped compartment on cover; interior of box fitted with lining with openings for bottles, lined, outlined with cable-gimp, edge outlined; hole at front for funnel; (b,c) glass bottles blown and cut; straight-sided, panel-cut sides; short, necks, ground; polished bases; fitted with domed covers; tops with ribbing around circles, sides waisted; inside straight pin threaded at end; (c) with cork and nut at tip of pin; caps with marks: eagle's head, fleur-de-lis follows outlines, script "V" in shaped panel, and capital "A" in lozenge-shaped compartment; (d) funnel with ovoid top with tiny straight tube extending from center stamped with the same marks as on covers on (b-c). See Notepad Full Desc 1988-01-13 for complete description. Provenance
Former Collection
Arthur A. Houghton Jr.
- 1987-12-04
