Vase
Unknown Artist
1770–1800
Medium
Free-blown amber glass
Dimensions
H. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)
Classification
Vase
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1937
Accession Number
37.46.3
Art Historical Context
This delicate amber glass vase, created by an unknown American artist between 1770 and 1800, exemplifies the craftsmanship of early American glassmaking during the nation's formative post-Revolutionary years. Standing at 7⅞ inches (20 cm) tall, it was fashioned using the free-blown technique skilled process where molten glass is gathered on a blowpipe and shaped solely by the glassblower's breath and tools, without molds. This method allowed for graceful, organic curves and subtle variations, highlighting the artisan's mastery over heat and form. The warm amber color, likely achieved by incor...