Vase
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
These ornamental vases would have been considered fairly novel and ingenious creations in the mid-19th century. They were also topical, with their views of the Crystal Palace. Though made in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), their subject matter and title in English, 'The Industrial Exhibition for 1851', marked them as a souvenir to British customers.
Historical Associations
At the time of the Great Exhibition, Bohemia, for centuries famed for its glass-making, formed part of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. Several Bohemian glass manufacturers exhibited ruby glass in the Austrian Section at the Crystal Palace, but it is not known which, if any of them made these vases.
Materials & Making
The vases are stained red by brushing on copper oxide. After firing, this thin coloured layer is cut away to reveal the clear glass beneath, which has then been wheel-engraved with the images of the Crystal Palace. Until 1840, the Bohemian, Friedrich Egermann (1777-1864), had been the only maker of red-stained glass, having discovered staining with copper in 1832. After several glassmakers broke into Egermann's workshop to learn the secret, knowledge of the technique quickly passed with them to France, from where, in turn, it was sold to St. Louis. Soon the technique was practised throughout Europe and America.
These ornamental vases would have been considered fairly novel and ingenious creations in the mid-19th century. They were also topical, with their views of the Crystal Palace. Though made in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), their subject matter and title in English, 'The Industrial Exhibition for 1851', marked them as a souvenir to British customers.
Historical Associations
At the time of the Great Exhibition, Bohemia, for centuries famed for its glass-making, formed part of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. Several Bohemian glass manufacturers exhibited ruby glass in the Austrian Section at the Crystal Palace, but it is not known which, if any of them made these vases.
Materials & Making
The vases are stained red by brushing on copper oxide. After firing, this thin coloured layer is cut away to reveal the clear glass beneath, which has then been wheel-engraved with the images of the Crystal Palace. Until 1840, the Bohemian, Friedrich Egermann (1777-1864), had been the only maker of red-stained glass, having discovered staining with copper in 1832. After several glassmakers broke into Egermann's workshop to learn the secret, knowledge of the technique quickly passed with them to France, from where, in turn, it was sold to St. Louis. Soon the technique was practised throughout Europe and America.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ruby-stained glass, cut and engraved |
| Brief description | One of a pair of vases, ruby engraved with a depiction of Crystal Palace, probably Bohemia, 1850-1851 |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION FOR 1851' (Decoration; English; inscribed) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Almost certainly made in Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic) |
| Summary | Object Type These ornamental vases would have been considered fairly novel and ingenious creations in the mid-19th century. They were also topical, with their views of the Crystal Palace. Though made in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), their subject matter and title in English, 'The Industrial Exhibition for 1851', marked them as a souvenir to British customers. Historical Associations At the time of the Great Exhibition, Bohemia, for centuries famed for its glass-making, formed part of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. Several Bohemian glass manufacturers exhibited ruby glass in the Austrian Section at the Crystal Palace, but it is not known which, if any of them made these vases. Materials & Making The vases are stained red by brushing on copper oxide. After firing, this thin coloured layer is cut away to reveal the clear glass beneath, which has then been wheel-engraved with the images of the Crystal Palace. Until 1840, the Bohemian, Friedrich Egermann (1777-1864), had been the only maker of red-stained glass, having discovered staining with copper in 1832. After several glassmakers broke into Egermann's workshop to learn the secret, knowledge of the technique quickly passed with them to France, from where, in turn, it was sold to St. Louis. Soon the technique was practised throughout Europe and America. |
| Bibliographic reference | See 'Glas des Historismus' - W. Spiegl (1980;p.10) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.170-1963 |
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| Record created | June 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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