Inkwell
Medium
Pressed yellow glass
Dimensions
H. 2 in. (5.1 cm)
Classification
Inkwell
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.636a, b
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this charming inkwell from Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co circa 1888, the ingenuity of late 19th-century American glassmaking. Crafted from pressed yellow glass and standing just 2 inches tall, it was a practical desk accessory for the Victorian-era writer or clerk, its vibrant hue adding a touch of warmth to everyday use. Gifted to the museum in 194 by Mrs. Emily Win Miles, it reflects the era's fascination with functional yet decorative household goods. Pressed glass, the innovative medium here, revolutionized American manu...
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...