New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Unfinished Vase With Sea Nymphs

Artist Unknown

DateLate 19th century

MediumBlown glass | Cameo-carved glass | Acid-etched glass

DimensionsOverall: 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Base: 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)

ClassificationsGlass

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number96.5.3

Terms

Mythology
Nymphs
Sea nymphs
Men
Blue
White
Stourbridge Area

On View

On view

DescriptionThis vase has a flaring rim, long neck, ovoid body, applied conical foot, and is blown with opaque white over deep blue glass, acid-etched and partially cameo carved. The white casing remains on the rim, neck, and shoulder, and on he foot and lower third of the ovoid body. The upper two thirds of the ovoid body has been partially worked into a frieze of mythological figures on a blue ground which remains porus from the initial acid-cutting. On the objverse is a sea nymph holding a trident and riding on a hippocampus--a mythical sea monster with a head and forequarters like a horse and a tail like a dolphin. She is flanked by standing male figures that face her; the male figure on the right is merely blocked in. Each male figure holds an uncompleted object overhead. On the reverse a sea nymph embraces a mythical creature that has the forequartres of a centaur and the tail of a dolphin. The figural groups with sea numphs have been brought to a greater state of completion than the male figures. The pontil mark is unpolished.

Label TextUNFINISHED VASE WITH SEA NYMPHS Stourbridge Area of Great Britain, late 19th century Blown cased glass; acid etched and partially cameo carved. Museum Purchase 96.5.3 The blank from which the unfinished vase was carved is similiar to those used for the carving of early English cameo glasses, such as Cupid on a Panther seen here and for the Milton Vase and Happy and Unhappy Child vases seen the room behind.