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Triangular Sewed-Up Cigarette Box

Object NameCovered box

Maker Michael Higgins (American, b. England, 1908-1999)

Maker Higgins Glass Studio (est. 1948)

Made FromNon-lead glass, copper

Date1994

Place MadeUnited States

Techniqueeach panel is a fusion of two pieces of cut sheet

SizeH: 10.1 cm, W: 6.8 cm, D: 5.7 cm

Accession Number96.4.159

Credit LineGift of Michael Higgins

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Not On View

Physical DescriptionColorless non-lead sheet glass, transparent pastel amethsyt, blue, greenish-amber, turquoise, pink enamels, metallic copper and brass; each panel is a fusion of two pieces of cut sheet glass with enamel, screen, and wire loops fired in between, folded, assembled. Covered box with equilateral triangular top (enameled blue and slightly larger than base) and base (amethyst), three rectangular sides (turquoise, greenish-amber, pink), all parts connected by metal wire or screen fused between the layers of glass; flat top has inclusion of a centered small triangle of copper screen, at front point of top a rounded brass wire is twisted to form a large loop that extends from the glass layers and down over top tip to act as a handle, the two ends of the wire are fused within the layers and bend back to meet each other then curl out in two spirals turning in opposite directions, along back edge of top one long side of a zigzag length of flat brass ribbon wire is fused in the glass, the part that extends out is repeatedly folded back on itself to form an openwork tube to hold a narrow brass rod that acts as a hinge between the top and an interleaved, similarly folded ribbon zigzagging from the top edge of the back side panel; the two short ends of each of the three rectangular side panels have flattened copper wire snaking in and out of the glass so that the wire inside the glass forms large open squares alternating with long extending narrow loops, on adjoining sides the pattern is staggered enabling the extended loops to folded over the adjacent glass side and hold the pieces together, each side wall has half oa long horizontal length of screen (with angled ends) fused inside along base edge, the other half of the screen is fused inside a corresponding edge of the base so that when folded up, the screen holds the base and sides together; engraved in script near center along one side of base: "higgins 94".
Provenance

Source Michael Higgins (American, b. England, 1908-1999)