Vase and Cover
18th century (made)
| Place of origin |
Although this vase and cover, produced in India probably in the late 18th century, could have easily been made in glass or lead-crystal, they have instead been fashioned from crystals of clear, colourless quartz. This is a much more difficult material to work with as it is hard and durable, and has to be hollowed out and polished rather than being blown or moulded from a melt. As such, they would have been expensive items to make and would have been destined for wealthy patrons. The vessel was acquired by the Indian Museum in London and transferred to South Kensington in 1879.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Rock crystal, cut and polished using abrasives. |
| Brief description | Vase and cover with raised and engraved decoration, rock crystal, chipped |
| Physical description | A vase and cover fashioned in rock crystal and polished. The vase is oval, with a round neck and it has been decorated with flowers and lines, both engraved and carved in relief. It stands on an oval foot with rim. There are cracks to the neck and chips missing from the rim. The cover is domed with an attached finial and it has a raised inner ring for locating on the vase. The surface is decorated with engraved and raised designs and there is a chip missing from the rim. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This vase and cover were formerly in The India Museum in London and were then transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Case .] '01,354. VASE and cover. Crystal, floral ornaments.' (No slip number given.) |
| Summary | Although this vase and cover, produced in India probably in the late 18th century, could have easily been made in glass or lead-crystal, they have instead been fashioned from crystals of clear, colourless quartz. This is a much more difficult material to work with as it is hard and durable, and has to be hollowed out and polished rather than being blown or moulded from a melt. As such, they would have been expensive items to make and would have been destined for wealthy patrons. The vessel was acquired by the Indian Museum in London and transferred to South Kensington in 1879. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 01354(IS) to 01354A/(IS) |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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