Salt
Unknown Artist
1830–40
Medium
Lacy pressed blue glass
Dimensions
1 11/16 x 3 1/8 in. (4.3 x 7.9 cm)
Classification
Salt
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles W. Green, in memory of Dr. Charles W. Green, 1951
Accession Number
51.171.122
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this delicate "Salt" cellar exemplifies the ingenuity of early 19th-century American glassmaking Crafted between 1830 and 1840 by an unknown artist the piece measures just 1 11/16 x 3 1/8 inches, perfect for gracing a dining table. Its vibrant blue hue and intricate lacy patterns—evoking delicate fabric—make it a charming survivor of everyday elegance. The medium, lacy pressed blue glass, a pivotal innovation in American craftsmanship. Developed in New England factories around the 1820s, pressed glass allowed artisans to create ornate...