plaque

Object NamePlaque with Classical Female Figure

Artist Henry Cros (French, 1840-1907)

Manufacturer Manufacture de Sèvres

Made FromNon-lead glass (probably)

Dateabout 1886

TechniqueMolded, pate de verre

SizeOverall H: 13.5 cm, W: 9.8 cm, D: 1.7 cm

Accession Number96.3.23

Curatorial Area(s)

Modern

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

In the 1880s, Henry Cros (French, 1840-1907) was one of the first French artists to revive the ancient casting technique called pâte de verre. The female figure depicted on this experimental plaque holds a classical vase that resembles the Portland Vase, the famous ancient Roman cameo glass vase that is now in the British Museum, London.

Place Made

France, Paris

Physical DescriptionOpaque white, yellow, fuschia, brown, tan, blue; probably non-lead glass (short-wave produces blue, long-wave produces yellow); molded pâte de verre. Small vertical plaque, rectangular in shape with hemispherical curved top, formed of white glass with front and side edges polychromed with thin layers of matte colored glasses; front decoration of low relief bust of antique-style woman in profile, her brown hair is brushed over her forehead and behind her ear, the head is covered with a long drapery (forming a rounded conical shape) in the same fuschia color as the garment (collarless, short-sleeved) into which it flows, the head is tilted downward, features delicately modeled and colored (tan skin tone, brown eye pupil and brow, pink lips), her arm is bent and slightly raised in front of the torso, the hand cups the base of a two-handled blue amphora with indistinguishable white decoration (suggesting the Portland Vase); background color is a bright yellow mottled with brown at the top and at the base, also some green mottling at the base, side edges of plaque are unevenly colored yellow; overall small metallic flecks on front and back, edges are somewhat irregular (base edge is slightly beveled revealing the white glass, as is a small section near top front right); back of plaque is irregular--white glass shows through brownish "wash", broken bubbles in lower left corner area, some beveling on edges, minor chipping; unsigned.
Provenance

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