Decanter
Medium
Blown molded lead glass
Dimensions
H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Classification
Decanter
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Bromley Seeley, 1937
Accession Number
37.166.1a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant decanter, crafted between 1820 and 1840 by the Boston & Glass Company in collaboration with the New England Glass Company, exemplifies the American glass industry during the early 19th century. at 9½ inches tall, it was made from blown molded lead glass—a technique that combined hand-blown shaping with molded patterns for both efficiency and ornamentation. Lead glass, prized for its clarity and refractive sparkle, allowed American makers to rival European imports, especially after trade disruptions from the War of 1812 and embargoes spurred domestic innovation. The decanter's pro...
About the Artist
Boston & Sandwich Glass Company|New England Glass Company · 1825–1888
The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, a pioneering force in American glassmaking, was established in 1825 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, by visionary entrepreneur Deming Jarves, who had honed his expertise as an agent for the New England Glass Company in Cambridge. Jarves built the factory on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, incorporating it formally the following year with Boston investors. Drawing o...