Vase
Medium
White opaque glass, gilt-bronze mounts
Dimensions
confirmed: 11 3/16 × 7 × 5 1/2 in., 7.4 lb. (28.4 × 17.8 × 14 cm, 3.4 kg)
Classification
Glass|Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
British, Birmingham
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, From the Marion E. and Leonard A. Cohn Collection, Bequest of Marion E. Cohn, by exchange, 2017
Accession Number
2017.4
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase, crafted around 1772 by the Birmingham firm Boulton & Fothergill—led by industrial innovator Matthew Boulton and James Keir—exemplifies the pinnacle of British luxury decorative arts in the late 18th century. of white opaque glass with ornate gilt-bronze, it measures about 11 inches tall and weighs over 7 pounds, showcasing the era's fusion of advanced manufacturing and refined aesthetics. The satyr motifs adorning the mounts evoke classical mythology, blending whimsy with neoclassical elegance popular among the elite. Boulton's Soho Manufactory in Birmingham revolutionized production techniques, enabling the creation of this opaque glass that mimicked costly porcelain or marble at a grand scale. The gilt-bronze elements, meticulously chased and gilded, add opulence and structural support, highlighting the firm's expertise in metalwork. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, acquired from the Marion E. Cohn Collection in 2017, it reflects Birmingham's rise as a hub of Enlightenment-era innovation. Visitors will appreciate how this vase captures the cultural zeitgeist: a playful nod to ancient satyrs amid the Industrial Revolution's gleam, bridging artistry and industry in a single, shimmering object.
About the Artist
Boulton & Fothergill|Matthew Boulton|James Keir (British|British|British, Scottish) · 1762 |1728 |1735 –1782 |1809 |1820
British, Soho, Birmingham|British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham|British, born Scotland, 1735–1820