Tear wine glass
Medium
Glass with green glass tears
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 8 1/8 × 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (20.6 × 8.9 × 8.9 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Funds from various donors, 2015
Accession Number
2015.248
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Tear Wine Glass*, a delicate masterpiece crafted around 1899 by Harry Powell at James Powell and Sons' Whitefriars Glassworks London. Standing at just over 8 inches tall, this British gem features a slender form adorned with vibrant green glass "tearsapplied droplets that cascade like emerald jewels, catching the light with mesmerizing sparkle. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, it exemplifies the artistry of a renowned family-run glasshouse celebrated for its technical prowess. Whitefriars Glassworks, under the Powell family's stewardship, played a pivotal role in Britain's late 19th-century glass revival, bridging Victorian opulence with the emerging Arts and Crafts movement. Harry Powell, a innovative designer, drew inspiration from medieval techniques, experimenting with colored glass overlays to create textured, jewel-like effects. The green tears here—likely hot-applied prunts or tears—add both visual drama and tactile interest, transforming a functional wine glass into a sculptural object. This piece whispers of London's vibrant glassmaking heritage, where craftsmanship met whimsy at the fin de siècle. Sip from history and imagine toasting in an era of artistic renewal—its enduring allure reminds us how everyday objects can embody extraordinary creativity.
About the Artist
Harry Powell|James Powell and Sons|Whitefriars Glassworks (British| |British) · 1853 | |1834 –1922 | |1980
British, 1853–1922| |British, 1834–1980