Hurricane Shade
Unknown Artist
1800–1830
Medium
Blown glass, pottery, metal
Dimensions
H. 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Classification
Hurricane shade
Culture
American or British
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.165.1
Art Historical Context
Welcome to The American Wing, where *Hurricane Shade* (ca. 1800–1830) illuminates the ingenuity of early 19th craftsmanship. This elegant lighting accessory, crafted from blown glass, pottery, and, stands 16¾ inches tall with a 6-inch diameter Its delicate glass chimney, designed to shield candle or oil lamp flames from drafts—earning the evocative "hurricane" name—reflects the practical beauty of pre-electric era home lighting. Produced anonymously by American or British artisans, the piece showcases masterful blown-glass techniques, where molten glass is shaped by breath and tools into tran...