Art Institute of Chicago

Vase

Made by Thomas Webb and Sons (1837–1979)

Date

1885–90

Medium

Glass

Culture

Stourbridge

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

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.

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