Celery Vase
Medium
Pressed yellow glass
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); Diam. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Celery vase
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.546
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, American homes buzzed with the elegance of Victorian tableware, and this *Celery Vase* from Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co. (ca. 1888) exemplifies that refined style. Crafted from pressed yellow glass, it stands 7½ inches tall with a 4-inch diameter, its sunny hue evoking warmth and abundance. Pressed glass, a revolutionary technique pioneered in the U.S., allowed factories like the Pittsburgh-based Richards and Hartley to mold intricate patterns quickly and affordably, making ornate glassware accessible beyond the elite. Celery vases like this one were table ce...
About the Artist
Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co. · 1867–1890
**Richards & Hartley Flint Glass Co.** Nestled in the heart of Pittsburgh's thriving flint glass industry, Richards & Hartley Flint Glass Co. was established in 1865 as a partnership producing pressed tableware. Founded by Joseph Richards, William T. Hartley, and John Wilson, the firm leased property on Locust Street near Pride Street, capitalizing on the region's abundant natural gas and skilled...