Vase
1850-1860 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Object Type
This goblet-shaped vase is a purely decorative object. Although made of glass, with its brilliant silvering and traditional pattern of engraved vine leaves and grapes it is nearest to the bright copper- or silver- lustred ceramic wares typical of north-eastern English potteries. Despite its apparently practical shape, it would have been bought as a curiosity, possibly to impress its owner's visitors.
Materials & Making
The process of making double-walled silvered glass was patented by Edward Varnish and Frederick Hale Thompson in 1849. A number of glassworks, such as that of James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars, London, made the blanks. A stemmed vase or goblet shape was formed, with the glass-blower stopping short of opening out the mouth. Instead, the top of the vase, still sealed as a bubble-shape, was reheated and 'dropped' inwards to form a double-walled interior. This plain, undecorated vase was then supplied to E. Varnish & Co., where it was filled between the walls from the foot end with a solution of silver nitrate and glucose (in the form of grape juice). The final stage was to seal the hole in the foot with a metal disc, in this example marked for Varnish's Patent.
Time
The silvered glass exhibited by E. Varnish & Co. fascinated commentators on the 1851 Great Exhibition. Varnish's salvers, vases, globes and goblets were bold in size and presentation, using non-tarnishing silver, ornamented with coloured casing, cutting and engraving. The process 'added a richness and beauty of colouring to that material of which few could deem it capable of receiving' (Illustrated London News).
This goblet-shaped vase is a purely decorative object. Although made of glass, with its brilliant silvering and traditional pattern of engraved vine leaves and grapes it is nearest to the bright copper- or silver- lustred ceramic wares typical of north-eastern English potteries. Despite its apparently practical shape, it would have been bought as a curiosity, possibly to impress its owner's visitors.
Materials & Making
The process of making double-walled silvered glass was patented by Edward Varnish and Frederick Hale Thompson in 1849. A number of glassworks, such as that of James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars, London, made the blanks. A stemmed vase or goblet shape was formed, with the glass-blower stopping short of opening out the mouth. Instead, the top of the vase, still sealed as a bubble-shape, was reheated and 'dropped' inwards to form a double-walled interior. This plain, undecorated vase was then supplied to E. Varnish & Co., where it was filled between the walls from the foot end with a solution of silver nitrate and glucose (in the form of grape juice). The final stage was to seal the hole in the foot with a metal disc, in this example marked for Varnish's Patent.
Time
The silvered glass exhibited by E. Varnish & Co. fascinated commentators on the 1851 Great Exhibition. Varnish's salvers, vases, globes and goblets were bold in size and presentation, using non-tarnishing silver, ornamented with coloured casing, cutting and engraving. The process 'added a richness and beauty of colouring to that material of which few could deem it capable of receiving' (Illustrated London News).
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Silvered glass, engraved |
Brief description | Vase, England (probably London), patent of Hale Thomson, attributed to J. Powell & Sons, 1849-1855, C.19-1961 and C.19 A-1961 |
Physical description | One of a pair of vases, double-walled, silvered and engraved. |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'Hale Thomson's Patent London' (Makers's mark) |
Gallery label |
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Object history | Probably made by James Powell & Sons, Whitefriars Glassworks, London. |
Summary | Object Type This goblet-shaped vase is a purely decorative object. Although made of glass, with its brilliant silvering and traditional pattern of engraved vine leaves and grapes it is nearest to the bright copper- or silver- lustred ceramic wares typical of north-eastern English potteries. Despite its apparently practical shape, it would have been bought as a curiosity, possibly to impress its owner's visitors. Materials & Making The process of making double-walled silvered glass was patented by Edward Varnish and Frederick Hale Thompson in 1849. A number of glassworks, such as that of James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars, London, made the blanks. A stemmed vase or goblet shape was formed, with the glass-blower stopping short of opening out the mouth. Instead, the top of the vase, still sealed as a bubble-shape, was reheated and 'dropped' inwards to form a double-walled interior. This plain, undecorated vase was then supplied to E. Varnish & Co., where it was filled between the walls from the foot end with a solution of silver nitrate and glucose (in the form of grape juice). The final stage was to seal the hole in the foot with a metal disc, in this example marked for Varnish's Patent. Time The silvered glass exhibited by E. Varnish & Co. fascinated commentators on the 1851 Great Exhibition. Varnish's salvers, vases, globes and goblets were bold in size and presentation, using non-tarnishing silver, ornamented with coloured casing, cutting and engraving. The process 'added a richness and beauty of colouring to that material of which few could deem it capable of receiving' (Illustrated London News). |
Other number | 0765 - Glass gallery number |
Collection | |
Accession number | C.19-1961 |
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Record created | December 13, 1997 |
Record URL |
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