vase

Object NameCameo Vase

Engraverprobably George Woodall (English, 1850-1925)

Manufacturer Thomas Webb and Sons (f. 1837)

Made FromLead Glass

Dateabout 1880-1890

Place MadeEngland, Amblecote

TechniqueBlown, Overlaid, Etched, Cameo Carved

SizeOverall H: 29.2 cm, W: 18.5 cm

Accession Number89.2.11

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

Not On View

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Cameo glasses are made in two stages. First, the undecorated blank with at least two layers of different colors is prepared. Then, after the blank has been gradually cooled to eliminate stresses in the glass, it is decorated. Ancient Roman cameo glasses were carved, ground, and polished, but later 19th-century examples were also treated with acid. After this technique was introduced in Stourbridge by Benjamin Richardson in the 1850s, cameo glasses were decorated in as many as five stages: (1) drawing the design on the surface of the glass; (2) painting part of the design with varnish, which resists the effects of the hydrofluoric acid used in etching; (3) removing unwanted parts of the overlay by etching; (4) carving and engraving fine details; and (5) polishing.

Physical DescriptionOpaque white, red, colorless, lead glasses; blown, overlaid, etched, cameo-carved. Tall, bulbous, ovoid shape; with rounded rim, waisted neck, rounded body with two curved, vertical handles; flared foot with rounded rim; opaque white overlaid on colorless on red, cameo-carved decoration, including a formal foliate border around the rim, elaborate classical acanthus ornaments around an urn of fruit on one side, with an animal's-head and scrollwork ornament on the opposite side; carved scrollwork on the handles, and a ring of scallops and points at the bases of the handles; acanthus leaves at the base, below the handles; stiff foliate border on the foot, with stylized floral and foliate border on the rim; foot rim ground flat; concave ground 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 / 123."
Provenance

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

Former Collection Dr. Leonard S. Rakow