Salt Caster

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this delicate *Salt Caster* from New England Glass Company exemplifies finesse of late 19th-century American glass. Standing just 3 5/8 inches (9.2 cm) tall, this blown glass vessel was designed for the dining table, allowing salt to be elegantly dispensed through a perforated top. The blown glass technique—where molten glass is gathered on a blowpipe and shaped by skilled inflation and tooling—enabled the creation of slender, graceful forms that balanced functionality with ornamental appeal. Produced after 1883 by the esteemed New England Glass Company, a leading Massachusetts firm renowned for its innovative glass production, this piece reflects the height of America's industrial glass era. During this period, companies like New England advanced blown glass methods to produce affordable yet refined tableware, bridging everyday utility and artistic craftsmanship. Such objects highlight how American manufacturers rivaled European imports, showcasing national pride in design and technique. Generously gifted to the Met in 1946 by Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, the *Salt Caster* now invites visitors to appreciate the subtle artistry in humble household items. It reminds us how glass, once molten and malleable, captures the sparkle of innovation in American decorative arts.

About the Artist

New England Glass Company · 1818–1888

**The New England Glass Company: Pioneers of American Flint Glass** The New England Glass Company was established on February 16, 1818, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a quartet of prominent local businessmen: Amos Binney, Edmund Munroe, Daniel Hastings, and Deming Jarves. Jarves, drawing on his dry goods background and talent for recruiting Europe's finest cutters, served as operational man...