Shepherd Boy Helping a Peasant Girl Across a Stream

Object NameVase

Engraver George Woodall (English, 1850-1925)

Manufacturer Thomas Webb and Sons (f. 1837)

Made FromGlass

Dateabout 1880-1890

Place MadeEngland, Amblecote

TechniqueBlown, Overlaid, Etched, Cameo-carved

SizeOverall H: 30.5 cm, Diam: 12.1 cm

Accession Number89.2.10

Credit LineGift of Juliette K. Rakow in memory of Leonard S. Rakow

Curatorial Area(s)

Modern

Exhibitions

Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking

On ViewThe Jerome and Lucille Strauss Study Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

The scene depicts a shepherd boy helping a peasant girl across a stream. Cameo glasses made by Thomas and George Woodall and their contemporaries are not to everyone's taste. Critics find them cold and "academic," but admirers point to their technical mastery and their sensitive treatment of figures. The latter qualities can be observed on this vase, especially in the rendering of the boy's foot underwater. (see cameo glass in Stourbridge (89.2.11).

Physical DescriptionOpaque white, transparent blue (two tints) and probably colorless glasses; blown, overlaid, etched, cameo-carved. Tall, ovoid shape; white overlay on dark blue (probably on colorless) on bright blue; the white and dark blue cameo-carved to produce the figures of a boy holding a girl in his arms, crossing a stream, one of the boy's feet on a rock, the other in the water; rocks and a grassy plant beside the stream; incised signature, "G. Woodall" (script), on a rock in the foreground; neck rim flared slightly, with two short, right-angle handles at either side; carved net on the neck, with stylized flowers at the intersections; the handles with carved stylized foliage and flowers, and leafy decorations at the joints with the body; on the reverse, a pendant flowering vine, with a bird flying above; rounded base with carved stiff leaves; flared foot with carved border of flowers; the bottom with ground foot rim and concave pontil mark, with acid-etched mark, "THOMAS WEBB & SONS" in an arc above "GEM / CAMEO"; printed circular paper collection label on the bottom, inscribed "COLLECTION OF DR. & MRS. LEONARD S. RAKOW / CG-27."
Provenance

Source Estate of Juliette K. (Mrs. Leonard S.) Rakow (d. 1992) - 1989-06-07