Hat stand

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan of Art, this elegant *Hat Stand* from the New England Glass Company (5–75) exemplifies-19th-century American in decorative glassware. Standing 11 inches tall with a 7-inch diameter its free-blown silvered glass construction creates a shimmering, mirror-like surface that catches the light beautifully. Free-blowing allowed artisans to shape the molten glass by hand, producing fluid, organic forms without molds, while the silvering process—applying a thin layer of silver nitrate inside—mimicked costly silver objects at a fraction of the price. Crafted during a boom in American manufacturing, the New England Glass Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a leader in innovative techniques, rivaling European imports. This hat stand reflects Victorian-era tastes for functional yet ornamental household items, blending utility with opulence. Such pieces adorned parlors, showcasing prosperity and the era's fascination with reflective surfaces that evoked luxury. A gift to the Met in 1978, this rare survivor highlights how American glassmakers elevated everyday objects into art, preserving a slice of industrial creativity for modern visitors to admire.

About the Artist

New England Glass Company · 1818–1888

**The New England Glass Company: Pioneers of American Flint Glass** The New England Glass Company was established on February 16, 1818, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a quartet of prominent local businessmen: Amos Binney, Edmund Munroe, Daniel Hastings, and Deming Jarves. Jarves, drawing on his dry goods background and talent for recruiting Europe's finest cutters, served as operational man...