Miniature Grotto
Early 18th century
Medium
Glass; lampwork (verre de Nevers), metal armature
Dimensions
47.7 × 52.1 × 19.1 cm (18 3/4 × 20 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.)
Classification
glass
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
63938
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In France, independent craftspeople known as emaillers specialized in small glass figures made by melting rods of opaque and colored glass (emaille) into a molten liquid, which they applied onto metal armatures. Such figures were made in several regions of Europe, but by the 1700s the French city of Nevers was especially well-known for them. Their relatively low cost made them accessible to a range of consumers, who could purchase individual figures or sophisticated compositions presented in gla...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...