Vase with knopped stem
This vase is a very fine example of the series of vases designed by Harry Powell (grandson of the wine-merchant, James Powell, who had purchased the Whitefriars Glassworks in 1834). Harry Powell’s designs of the 1880s and '90s created a whole group of decorative vessels characterized by delicately wavy-rimmed bowls and subtly tinted glass. The silhouette of the vase and fineness of the glass, accentuated by the ruffles of the bowl, is inspired by Venetian cristallo. The fluid design of the delicately regular waves of the bowl is testament to the skill of the Whitefriars’ glassmakers and to Powell’s confidence in their craftsmanship, achieved by gently manipulating the molten glass with a crimping tool. In later years, this effect would be taken to its logical conclusion, by replacing the use of the crimping tool by a more natural formation of waves in the bowls achieved by holding the partially-shaped molten glass upside down on the blowpipe and swinging it out to create the forms.
This vase exemplifies the core philosophy of James Powell & Sons to prize glassmakers’ technique and celebrate the colors and property of their material, rather than to simply depend upon surface decoration and embellishment. At the opposite end of their spectrum of production, James Powell & Sons also used the colors and format of this group of vases’ bowl designs to great and influential effect in more functional glassware as the bowls for oil lamps.
This vase exemplifies the core philosophy of James Powell & Sons to prize glassmakers’ technique and celebrate the colors and property of their material, rather than to simply depend upon surface decoration and embellishment. At the opposite end of their spectrum of production, James Powell & Sons also used the colors and format of this group of vases’ bowl designs to great and influential effect in more functional glassware as the bowls for oil lamps.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vase with knopped stem
- Designer: Attributed to Harry Powell (British, 1853–1922)
- Maker: James Powell and Sons
- Manufacturer: Whitefriars Glassworks (British, 1834–1980)
- Date: ca. 1880
- Culture: British
- Medium: “Straw opal” glass with uranium glass knop
- Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 8 1/16 × 4 × 4 in. (20.5 × 10.2 × 10.2 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Funds from various donors, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.244
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1899
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890
Worcester factory
1876
Worcester factory
1879
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.