Epergne
Manufacturer
Unknown
CultureEnglish
MediumMold-blown, applied, and tooled glass; metal mounts
DimensionsOverall: 15 3/4 in. (40 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.4290
On View
On viewLabel TextCENTERPIECES FOR THE VICTORIAN TABLE Demand for floral vessels increased greatly in the nineteenth century. In the 1820s, the Prince Regent, George IV (1762-1830), set the fashion for displaying freshly cut flowers in silver and glass centerpieces on the dining table. The practice gradually trickled down from the royal table into middle-class homes. Importation of exotic species of flowers from the expanding British Empire created new markets at home. The rise of greenhouses and conservatories, constructed with new glass window technology, also improved accessibility to fresh flowers. Glassmakers recognized increasing demand and catered to floral-crazed Victorian hostesses. Glass epergnes ranged from simple vases to elaborately ornamented forms made to hold flowers, candies, and fruits. A new language of flowers developed to convey unspoken messages. Books devoted exclusively to flower arranging became popular. By the end of the nineteenth century, owning the proper floral vase to display certain flowers became part of a larger social code in which objects conveyed the status, wealth, and impeccable taste of their owners. English Epergne with Flower Stand, ca. 1890 Mold-blown, applied, and tooled glass; metal mounts Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.4290 Exhibition History"Cheers to Queen Victoria: British Glass from the Chrysler Collection," Waitzer Community Gallery, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, September 22, 2010 - March 20, 2011.
Unknown date
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