Vase
Thomas Webb & Sons
1885–90
Medium
Blown and cased glass
Dimensions
26.9 × 20.7 cm (10 9/16 × 8 1/8 in.)
Classification
vase
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
72230
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This vase, one of the most ambitious designs produced by the English firm of Thomas Webb and Sons, is shaped like an oil lamp from an Islamic mosque. The red glass body was overlaid with a layer of white glass, which artist George Woodall then meticulously carved away to create a delicate floral pattern. This ancient technique, known as cameo, was reintroduced to Europe during the late 1800s, possibly through imported work by Chinese glassmakers, who excelled at cameo cutting.