Beaker glass
18th century
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the C. Helme and Alice B. Stater Collection
Accession Number
1976-1-31
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant 18th-century beaker glass, part of the Smithsonian American Art's collection, exemplifies the craftsmanship of early American glassware. Donated through the generous gift of the C. Helme and Alice B. St Collection, it belongs to the Smithsonian Collection's glasswares classification. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, such beakers were essential household items, often used for drinking ale, wine, or punch in colonial homes and taverns. In the 18th century, glass emerged as a vital American industry, with workshops producing functional yet beautifully formed vessels. These pieces reflect the era's blend of European influences—like English and German techniques—and local ingenuity, as colonists sought self-sufficiency amid limited imports. The beaker's form highlights the technical skill required to blow and shape molten glass into durable, symmetrical objects, sometimes adorned with simple engravings or colors. Today, this beaker offers a tangible link to everyday colonial life, reminding us how ordinary objects carried artistic value. As curators continue research, it invites visitors to ponder the anonymous hands that shaped America's material culture.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...