Hurricane Shade

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate **Hurricane Shade**, masterful example of early 19th-century glass from a British or Irish artisan, crafted around 1800. Standing at an elegant 20 3/4 inches tall, this luminous piece exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of the period, when hand-blown glass transformed everyday lighting into functional art. Its graceful, flared form—evoking the protective swirl of a hurricane—shielded oil lamp flames from drafts, ensuring steady illumination in draughty homes. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this shade bridges transatlantic tastes, reflecting the era's booming trade in decorative glass between Europe and America. Glassmaking techniques, like free-blowing and subtle molding, allowed for such durable yet ornamental designs, blending utility with subtle opulence. Popular in genteel parlors, these shades lit intimate gatherings during the Georgian and Regency periods, symbolizing the intersection of technology and taste. A generous gift from The Sylmaris Collection via George Coe Graves in 1930, the **Hurricane Shade** invites us to appreciate the anonymous genius behind objects that shaped daily life. Gaze closely, and imagine its soft glow flickering across period furnishings, a testament to enduring ingenuity.