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The result of months of digging into the Museum’s vast collections,―Curiosities of Glassmaking‖ presents an array of unusual objects madeof glass that date from antiquity to the present day. Sometimes peculiar,often mysterious, and generally inspired, the selections are arranged incategories and by types in a manner that is purposefully inconsistentwith displays elsewhere in the Museum.Instead of documenting the chronological development of glass over thecenturies, this exhibition mixes different periods, as well as various typesand functions of glass. Ancient and contemporary glass may be unitedby a shared theme and glasses that are unrelated to each other may beshown together in a new context. Visitors are invited to observe themany unique properties of glass, such as how it is formed in nature, howit mimics other materials, how it may be used to deflect evil, how itserves medical and scientific and household purposes, and how it mayportray the natural world.The title of the exhibition refers to a popular 19th-century manual,Curiosities of Glass Making. Published in London in 1849 by the wellknown glassmaker Apsley Pellatt, it revealed many secrets of ancient andmodern glassmaking to an enthusiastic public.Although glass has been employed for everyday things throughout mostof its history, it has also always been recognized as possessing arcaneaspects. Medieval and Renaissance encyclopedias—such as the 13thcentury De Proprietatibus Rerum (On the properties of things) byBartholomaeus Anglicus or Giambattista della Porta’s Magiae Naturalis(Natural magic), first published in 1558—recorded many special uses forglass, such as clearing eyes and kidneys, smoothing skin, counterfeitinggemstones, creating artificial fire, and effecting the spontaneousgeneration of animals.In this exhibition, the notion of collecting and displaying glass curiositiesis inspired by the large Victorian-era museum displays of odd,exotic, and unusual objects that often included archeologicalartifacts, geological specimens, and assorted trophy animals. This typeof presentation originated in the private collections of curiosities, popularfrom the 17th century on, that served as the foundation for manyimportant museum collections in Europe and America today.Glass is an ordinary material that we use every day without thinkingtwice about it. These strange objects may inspire viewers to look for odduses of glass in their own homes, or to find and collect their ownexamples of unusual objects in glass.VesselRoman, 1st–2nd centuryBlown glass66.1.2331
This object is traditionally called a child’s feeder, but there is noarcheological or documentary evidence to support this interpretation. Itmay have been used for another purpose, such as filling oil lamps.Bird FeederGermany, about 1475–1550Blown glass77.3.56, gift of Johannes Josef HalmFire GrenadesEurope, 17th–18th centuryBlown glass84.3.12; 98.3.23, gift of The Wunsch Foundation Inc.Until good protective equipment was developed, firefighters could not getvery close to fires. Instead, they filled grenades like these with water andtossed them into a fire to put it out.HourglassProbably England, about 1800–1850Blown glass; wood, sand, wax68.2.3This sandglass measures about half an hour. Hourglasses were firstdepicted inthe 14th century. They were first mentioned in a 14th-century ship’sinventory, which suggests that they were used as navigating devices.Hourglasses can measure periods of time ranging from a few minutes toan hour or more.Powder HornJohn Long (American, dates unknown)United States, 1820–1840Blown glass64.4.17Bird FeederUnited States, Sandwich, Massachusetts, Boston and Sandwich GlassCompany, 1830–1840Mold-blown glass2004.4.384Rolling PinUnited States, 1870–1880Blown glass70.4.84String HolderUnited States, about 1890–1900Pressed glass72.4.115, gift of Preston BassettChainUnited States, 1890-1910Lampworked glass71.4.101This 8-foot long chain is decorative.BankUnited States, 19th centuryBlown and hot-worked glass91.4.80, gift of Samuel Schwartz in memory of Esther Ipps Schwartz2
ThimblesFrance or possibly Bohemia, about 1900Molded glass, cut, gilded2006.3.58Stocking DarnerUnited States, Corning, New York, Steuben Division, Corning GlassWorks, about 1903–1933Blown and hot-worked glass2001.4.35, gift of Gerald M. EggertGlass-Tipped BulletsUnited States, Corning, New York, Corning Glass Works, 1942Molded borosilicate glass; metal casing70.4.176, .177, gifts of Otto W. HilbertThese bullets were made during World War II to address metal shortages.12-Gauge Shotgun Shell with Glass ShotUnited States, Corning, New York, Corning Glass Works, 1942–1943Molded borosilicate glass; brass, paper70.4.175, gift of Otto W. HilbertSilver Streak Electric Iron and Silver Streak Iron CoverUnited States, Corning, New York, Corning Glass Works and SaundersMachine and Tool Corporation, designed in 1943 and made in 1946Molded borosilicate glass; aluminum, steel, and electrical components2005.4.22; 65.4.3, gift of Otto W. HilbertThe Silver Streak Pyrex iron was designed during World War II as a wayto conserve metal. By the time these irons were put into production,however, the war had ended and they were no longer necessary. Theywere produced for only one year.Bake-A-Round Bread TubeUnited States, Corning, New York, Corning Glass Works, 1970sMachine-made borosilicate glass tube; metal oven rack, paper recipe2003.4.72, anonymous giftMade for a limited time in the 1970s, the Bake-A-Round was a novel usefor industrial glass tubing. Surprisingly, many people still use theirBake-a-Rounds, and the original recipes, which can be hard to find, aretraded on the Web.Since Roman times, glassmakers have enjoyed creating glasses in formsdesigned to amuse and bewilder. Trick glasses are meant to entertain,and the way that they hold or distribute liquid is usually unpredictable,which makes them perfect for drinking games.One of the more unexpected uses for glass is as flatware, which has beenmade since Roman times. The fact that a glass spoon can easily breaksuggests that it was not meant for everyday use. Although glass-handledknives, forks, and spoons were safer, they were probably reserved for useby guests.3
SpoonProbably Roman Empire, 1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.Blown and hot-worked glass54.1.105Goblet with Blue KnopProbably the Netherlands, 16th–17th centuryBlown glass79.3.1128, bequest of Jerome StraussNo one knows what purpose the blue bulb in this glass may have served.It has been suggested that bowls with similar blue knops may have beenfilled with water and small fish and then hung above sickbeds toentertain patients.SpoonItaly, 17th centuryBlown and hot-worked glass, gilded50.3.73Double-Walled WineglassItaly or Spain, about 1650Blown filigrana79.3.877, gift of The Ruth Bryan Strauss Memorial FoundationTrick Glass in the Form of BagpipesGermany, 1650–1750Optic-blown glass; applied decoration64.3.87MugSpain, Andalusia, probably Almería, about 1700–1850Blown and cased glass; applied handle79.3.600, gift of The Ruth Bryan Strauss Memorial FoundationThe transparent glass of this vessel has been cased with a darker,opaque layer of glass to make it seem as if the mug is full of beer or wine.Zwischengoldglas Beaker with DiceBohemia, 1725Blown glass, cut, and engraved glass; gold-foil decoration, ivory dice79.3.364, gift of Jerome StraussKnife and ForkProbably Bohemia, about 1740–1750Blown glass, gilded; metal74.3.133Knife and ForkItaly, 18th centuryFused murrine, cut; metal81.3.5, 81.3.6Large SpoonUnited States, 1840–1870Blown lead glass, cut71.4.90Knife, Fork, and SpoonProbably Bohemia, about 1875–1900Cut glass, gilded66.3.12, gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Davis Hatch4
Trick GlassFrance, possibly second half of the 19th centuryBlown glass; liquid99.3.119Knife, Fork, and SpoonJean E. Puiforcat (French, 1897–1945)France, Paris, about 1925–1935Molded glass; silver83.3.220Bedspring Cone CupBuster Simpson (American, b. 1942)With the assistance of Therman StatomUnited States, Seattle, Washington, 1983Hot-worked glass; chromed bedspring86.4.21Goblet with Stem in the Form of a SpringElio Quarisa (Italian, b. 1936)United States, Corning, New York, 2002Blown glass2007.4.13, gift of the artistThis type of stem was first made in the 1880s by the Italian glassworksBarovier & Toso.―Glasses and Pills‖ TumblerMaria Grazia Rosin (Italian, b. 1958)Italy, Murano, 2005Blown and flameworked glass2005.3.37 C, gift of the artist and Caterina Tognon Arte Contemporanea,VeniceThroughout its history, glass has been used to imitate other, usuallymore costly, materials. Ancient craftsmen made precious bowls of glassthat looked like turquoise and rock crystal. Later, glass was used as asubstitute for luxury wares made of precious and semiprecious stones(including rubies, emeralds, sapphires, agates, and marbles) and otherfashionable materials, such as porcelain. Pure colorless glasses weredeveloped to compete with rock crystal objects, and counterfeit glassgems have been popular since the Renaissance.Goblet Imitating PorcelainFrance, 17th centuryMold-blown and hot-worked glass98.3.61, gift of The Wunsch Foundation Inc.Ice-Glass BeakerThe Netherlands, 17th centuryBlown glass79.3.175, gift of The Ruth Bryan Strauss Memorial FoundationRuby Glass CupSouthern Germany, about 1690–17105
Blown glass, engraved79.3.378, bequest of Jerome StraussCovered Mug Possibly Imitating CeramicProbably Germany, about 1700Blown glass79.3.495, bequest of Jerome StraussCovered Sapphire Blue GobletEngland, about 1760–1780Blown glass, cut79.2.112, bequest of Jerome StraussCup and Saucer Possibly Imitating Snowflake ObsidianEurope, 18th centuryBlown glass79.3.493, bequest of Jerome StraussSerpentine BeakerGermany, Saxony, probably Zoblitz, about 1810–1840Cut stone74.7.12This beaker entered the Museum’s collection as a glass vessel, but it waslater determined to be stone.Snuff Bottle Imitating Rock CrystalProbably Scotland, about 1820–1840Blown lead glass, cut, engraved79.2.320, bequest of Jerome StraussBeaker Imitating AgateBohemia, about 1830–1840Blown glass, cut75.3.10, gift of Lillian Nassau―Agate‖ BeakerSouthern Bohemia, Georgenthal, glassworks of the count of Buquoy,after 1834Blown glass, enameled, cut, gilded91.3.97, gift of Mrs. K. F. LandeggerJet-Black Goblet with Pattern of ArchesFrance, Saint-Louis, Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint-Louis, 1840Pressed glass58.3.193Marbled Wine or Dessert GlassItaly, 1850–1875Blown glass79.3.1001, gift of The Ruth Bryan Strauss Memorial Foundation―Chalcedony‖ BeakerItaly, 19th centuryBlown glass74.3.161, gift of Jerome Strauss―Chalcedony‖ VaseItaly, Venice, 19th centuryBlown and hot-worked glass71.3.161, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gillett Welles Sr.6
Vase Imitating JadeChina, 19th centuryBlown glass56.6.5, gift of Mrs. E. C. ChadbourneCup Imitating TurquoiseChina, 1912–1949Blown glass56.6.8, gift of Mrs. E. C. ChadbourneGlass ShoeFrederick Carder (American, born in England, 1863–1963)United States, Corning, New York, Steuben Division, Corning GlassWorks, 1925Mold-blown glass66.4.74This glass slipper was designed for a movie production of Cinderella, butthe film was never completed.―Leather‖ GloveFulvio Bianconi (Italian, 1915–1996)Italy, Murano, Venini, 1948Optic-blown and hot-worked glass; gold-foil decorationL.238.3.2000, lent by The Steinberg FoundationScientists tell us that glass is a state of matter rather than a singlematerial. It is formed when a molten material cools so rapidly that thereis not enough time for the material’s crystalline structure to re-form.Obsidian, for example, is rock in a glassy state, just as hard candy issugar in a glassy state. In nature, glasses are formed when sand androcks are heated to high temperatures and then cooled rapidly.Chunk of ObsidianCollected in the United StatesVolcanic glass; metallic inclusions62.7.3, gift of George D. MacBethObsidian is formed when molten volcanic rock from the interior of theearth (lava) cools rapidly.Chunk of ObsidianCollected in CaliforniaVolcanic glass63.7.12, gift of Fred P. BentleySpearheadsUnited States, about 1000–1500Hand-chipped volcanic glass62.7.1, gift of The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HistoryGlassy materials have a shiny surface and they show curved, conchoidal(shell-like) fractures. The edges of these spearheads display thischaracteristic type of fracture.Obsidian KnifePossibly Mexico, 1200–1521Hand-chipped volcanic glass7
65.1.19, gift of J. J. KlejmanTektitesCollected in VietnamNonvolcanic terrestrial or extraterrestrial glass59.7.4; 96.7.4, gift of Christopher Sheppard; 2000.7.16, .18, .24, .27,.32, .38, .48, gift of Darryl S. FutrellLike volcanic glass (obsidian), which is formed when lava cools rapidly,tektites are created when rocks and soil are melted by a meteoriticimpact and then rapidly cooled. Tektites are formed at a much highertemperature than volcanic glass and under tremendous pressure. Themeteoritic impacts, which occurred millions of years ago, literally meltedthe rock of the meteor and the surrounding terrestrial rock, creating thespherical forms, comma shapes, drips, and splashes characteristic oftektites.Large TektiteCollected in VietnamNonvolcanic terrestrial or extraterrestrial glass2000.7.3, gift of Darryl S. FutrellTektites occur in specific geographic areas, which are called tektitestrewn-fields. Fields that have yielded many tektites are located inVietnam (also called Indochina), the Ivory Coast of west Africa, thePhilippines, the Czech Republic (where meteoritic moldavites are found),Australia, and in the United States (Georgia and Texas).Spherical TektitesCollected in Texas and elsewhereNonvolcanic terrestrial or extraterrestrial glass2000.7.4–.6, gift of Darryl S. FutrellLibyan Desert GlassSahara, Egypt or Libya, Great Sand Sea, possibly collected in Libya in1934Nonvolcanic terrestrial or extraterrestrial glass2000.7.1, gift of Darryl S. FutrellLibyan desert glass, which is almost pure silica, ranges from small flakesand nuggets to heavy chunks, such as this impressively large example.It is not known what happened millions of years ago to create this glass,which exists, as far as we know, only in the remote desert region ofwestern Egypt and eastern Libya. It is believed to have either resultedfrom a meteoritic impact or from a comet exploding in the earth’satmosphere. The composition of Libyan desert glass is quite differentfrom that of other glass of meteoritic origin, such as tektites. Lunar soilsalso have a high silica content and are glassy.FulguritesCollected in Michigan and ArizonaGlass64.7.9, gift of Harvey Franz; 63.7.30, gift of Dr. Monroe McIverFulgurites, sometimes called petrified lightning, are found everywhere.They are formed when lightning strikes sand dunes. Fulgurites vary inlength from a few inches to several feet, and they break easily. Thelongest recorded example measures 17 feet.Glass SpongeProbably collected in the 19th centuryGlass; wood and glass display dome2005.7.26Sponges are among the oldest known multicellular animals. Thespicules (needlelike structures) that form the sponge's skeleton are made8
of different materials such as silica, carbonates, and protein fibers.Glass sponges, which live in the deep ocean, have skeletons made ofsilica spicules. This skeleton of the sponge known as Euplectella is alattice of silica. A scientific study of its substructure and refractiveproperties found that the sponge’s silica spicules transmit light in asimilar way to the optical fibers used in telecommunications.TrinititeUnited States, White Sands, New Mexico, Trinity test site, 1945Glass2006.4.237, gift in memory of Stephen P. TooneyThese samples were collected at the Trinity test site of what is now theWhite Sands Missile Range in White Sands, New Mexico. Trinitite wasunintentionally created by the United States Army on July 16, 1945,during the testing of the Trinity atomic bomb. The trinitite appears tohave formed as sand was sucked up into the nuclear fireball, falling backto the ground in a rain of molten glass. These specimens are no longerradioactive.Miranda VIIIJohn Leighton (American, b. 1948)United States, Oakland, California, 1991Cast glass; wire2004.4.67, gift of the artist in memory of his father, Jasper L. LeightonAlthough this sculpture was made by an artist and not by nature, theancient–looking, crusty surface is reminiscent of the glass formed by theimpacts of meteorites.With the exception of the Klein Bottle, the glass in this group has notbeen annealed (allowed to cool slowly). Because of the internal stressesthat are created when the surface of the glass cools faster than itsinterior, unannealed glass can explode at any time. These items aredisplayed inside their own case, where they can do no harm if they selfdestruct during the exhibition.Klein BottleUnited States, Oakland, California, Acme Klein Bottle Company, 2006Flameworked borosilicate glass2007.4.14The Klein Bottle is not meant to be functional but to illustrate amathematical principle. Its surface is continuous, which means that thevessel does not have a conventional interior and exterior. The AcmeKlein Bottle company’s Web site states that ―in 1882, Felix Kleinimagined sewing two Möbius Loops together to create a single-sidedbottle with no boundary. Its inside is its outside. It contains itself.‖Christian Felix Klein (1849–1925) was a German mathematician bestknown for his reorganization of the study of geometry in the late 19thcentury.Prince Rupert’s DropsPrince Rupert’s drops are created by dripping hot glass into cold water,which forms a solid tadpole-shaped droplet with a long, thin tail.Because the water rapidly cools the outside of the droplet while theinterior remains hot, stresses are created inside the glass. Although aPrince Rupert’s drop can withstand blows from a blunt instrument on its9
bulbous end, it will explode if the tail is broken or even slightly damaged.The drop is said to have been discovered in the mid 17th-century byRupert, count palatine of the Rhine and duke of Bavaria, commonlyknown as Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619–1682).Bologna VialA Bologna vial is an unannealed glass vial of any form and of any kind ofglass that is much thicker at the bottom than at the top. This glass canbe hit with a blunt instrument without breaking, but if the inside oroutside surface is scratched, the stresses inside the glass cause the vialto explode.10
Easy to clean and sterilize, glass is a preferred material for all kinds ofmedical purposes. One of the more quaint—and today bizarre—uses ofglass in medicine is related to the practice of bloodletting, or phlebotomy.Cupping GlassPossibly Islamic, 8th–11th centuryBlown glass65.1.31Mortar (Fragment) and PestleEurope, 17th centuryBlown and hot-worked glass2006.3.78, gift of The Wunsch Foundation Inc.This mortar and pestle were found in Amsterdam.Woman’s UrinalNorthern Europe, 18th centuryBlown glass69.3.13Five Bleeding Instruments in a Travel CaseEngland, about 1810–1830Blown glass; wood, brass, steel, chamois, velvet79.2.2This set includes a brass scarificator, used to make multiple cuts in apatient’s skin, and several cupping glasses. The blood removed from thebody during a bloodletting procedure could be caught in shallow bowls orin small glass cups. Heated air created a vacuum inside the cups, whichcaused the blood to flow into them. This practice was called cupping.Cupping GlassUnited States or possibly England, 19th centuryBlown glass76.4.4, gift of Alfred WolkenbergOptical Model of the EyeProbably France, 19th centuryOptical glass; brass, lacquered metal (probably copper)2004.3.40Case Illustrating the Making of Prosthetic Glass EyesUnited States, Needham, Massachusetts, Tamworth Associates,1929–1940Lampworked glass; display box52.4.58This case was created for display in a doctor’s office or for use by atraveling salesman. It shows the steps involved in making glass eyes,from the original rods to the finished products. Each artificial eye wasmade for a specific patient (to match his or her remaining eye), and thecoloring was carefully applied. During the Renaissance, European11
lampworkers produced glass eyes by heating and manipulating hollowglass rods over the flame of a lamp. Itinerant craftsmen brought thetechnique to America in the 19th century, and by 1900, there weremakers of glass eyes in all of the major Eastern cities. Today, mostartificial eyes are made of plastic.Prosthetic EyesJapan, Amagasaki, Iwaki Glass Company, 1926Flameworked glass61.6.41, gift of Kuranosuke IwakiProsthetic EyeUnited States, Needham, Massachusetts, Tamworth Associates,1929–1940Flameworked glass52.4.58Ear LevelJocelyne Prince (Canadian, b. 1963)United States, Providence, Rhode Island, 1994Blown glass; steel, motor oil, cotton batting, metal; assembled98.4.18This eccentric object was inspired by medical models of the ear and otherparts of the body.Among the earliest objects made in glass are eye beads, which date to thethird millennium B.C. Like modern eye beads, they are meant to deflectthe evil eye, which is believed to cause sickness in people and in animals.The evil eye is caused by envy and jealousy, and it may be intentionallyor unintentionally given. An eye bead offers the wearer protection fromthe evil eye, as well as general protection against negative energy and illwill.Eye BeadsChina, 1122–221 B.C.Hot-worked glass51.6.556, 68.6.3Eye BeadsAttributed to Iran, 10th century B.C.Hot-worked glass74.1.4Eye BeadProbably Egypt or possibly Near East, 8th–4th century B.C.Core-formed glass54.1.144Eye BeadEastern Mediterranean, probably Carthage or possibly Egypt,6th–3rd century B.C.Core-formed glass, trail-decorated54.1.23, gift of Fahim KouchakjiEye Beads and Pendant12
Eastern Mediterranean or Carthage, 600–250 B.C.Core-formed glass, trail-decorated54.1.140, .143Eye BeadsChina, 4th century B.C.Hot-worked glass51.6.554, .572Wedjet-Eye RingEgypt, 3rd–1st century B.C.Hot-worked glass or glassy faience76.1.95, gift of Carl Berkowitz and Derek ContentThe wedjet eye is the best known of the Egyptian protective amulets, andit was believed to have strong healing powers. It represents the eye ofthe falcon-headed god Horus, and it was worn in life and in death.Eye BeadRoman Empire, 1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.Fused and hot-worked mosaic glass54.1.152Magatama AmuletsJapan, Nara period, 710–794Molded glass, cut61.6.1, .4, .58; 71.6.14, gift of Dorothy BlairMagatama are traditional curved beads that are said to represent thehuman spirit, and the wearer is believed to have the special protection ofthe gods. In modern Japan, the form of the magatama is still used as avisual representation of the human spirit.Eye BeadsItaly, 19th centuryFused and hot-worked mosaic glass73.3.48, .156Eye BeadsPossibly Middle East, 19th or 20th centuryHot-worked glass70.3.240Witch BallUnited States, about 1806–1853Blown glass50.4.469The evil eye is not the only source of ambient negativity and ill will.―Witches,‖ for example, can include anyone who actively wishesmisfortune or sickness on others, or who causes others to suffer. Thewitch ball is believed to be the ancestor of the Christmas tree ornament,which was originally meant to protect gifts from outsiders who mightcovet them. In the United States, witch balls were traditionally filled withcolorful bits of paper and string to confuse and repel witches who mightbe lurking around the house.Witch BallUnited States, Midwest, about 1816–1830Optic-blown glass50.4.103Witch BallUnited States, 1820–186013
Blown glass62.4.37Witch BallUnited States, 19th centuryOptic-blown glass50.4.287Eye BeadsTurkey, Istanbul, about 1968Hot-worked glass75.3.37In addition to beads with the symbol of the eye, any brilliant blue bead iseffective in dispelling the evil eye.Eye BeadsTurkey, Izmir vicinity, about 1991Hot-worked glass91.3.105, gift of M. Vest and T. SodeMaşallah Bird on Globe Holding An Eye BeadTurkey, Eskişehir, Eskişehir Prison, about 1997Glass beads, heart-shaped glass evil eye bead; plastic beads and spacers,nylon thread, cardboard2007.3.62, gift of Stephen P. KoobMaşallah—a Turkish word adapted from the Arabic ma sha’ Allah (―whatwonders has God willed‖)—is an expression of thanks for a good omen.The maşallah birds, which are made by prison inmates, protect drivers.Witch PotLaura Donefer (Canadian, b. 1955)Canada, Harrowsmith, Ontario, 1999Blown glass, beads; mixed media2000.4.32, gift of the artistAdorned with antlers and stocked with dirt, bones, and other naturalmaterials, this vessel creates its own energy and symbolic power.Passion BottleAttributed to Alexandre Soudart (French, about 1850–1914)France, Sars-Poteries, second half of the 19th centuryBlown and lampworked glass; water77.3.25, gift of Countess J. de VogüéThis bottle is based on Florentine liquid-in-glass thermometers, whichmake use of a physical principle first observed by Galileo. As thetemperature of the water changes, its density also changes, forcing theglass floaters to descend or ascend. All of the lampworked figurines areassociated with the symbolism of the Passion of Christ.Geissler Tube and StandProbably Germany or England, 1870–1915Lampworked glass; wood stand97.3.24The German physicist Heinrich Geissler (1814–1879) is best known forhis invention of sealed glass tubes (called Geissler tubes) in 1857. Hecreated a bluish light by using an electrode to activate the gas sealedinside the tube. The Geissler tube was the precursor of such everyday14
necessities as fluorescent lamps, neon signs, and television cathode-raytubes.Four Hydrometers in a CaseFrance, Paris, Salleron Dujardin, 1903Lampworked glass; mercury, travel case71.3.174, gift of the Taylor Instrument CompanyA hydrometer is an instrument used for determining the specific gravityof liquids. These glass examples consist of a cylindrical stem and a bulbweighted with mercury to make it float upright. The liquid to be tested ispoured into a tall jar, and the hydrometer is gently lowered into theliquid until it floats freely. Hydrometers usually contain a paper scaleinside the stem so that the specific gravity (where the liquid touches thestem) can be determined.Bubble HolderPeter Ivy (American, b. 1969)United States, Providence, Rhode Island, 1995Blown and hot-worked glass; soap bubble; assembled98.4.22Peter Ivy constructed this elaborate holder for the most ephemeral ofobjects: a soap bubble. The soap bubble lasts only for a few hours atmost before it needs to be remade.Meitnerium IVRichard Craig Meitner (American, b. 1949)The Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1997Blown glass; quartz, wood, gilding2003.3.4, gift of Barry Friedman Ltd., New YorkThis piece was inspired by the strange Victorian pseudo-scientificinstrumentsused to measure different phenomena. Richard Meitner presents asample of quartz, or rock crystal, which is symbolic of magnetic energyand purity.Glass has been used throughout its history to store and protect valuablespecimens, keepsakes, and even human remains.Reliquary Beaker (Krautstrunk)Southern Germany or Austria, Tyrol, late 15th–early 16th centuryBlown glass; wax, bone, fabric70.3.23This object was made as a functional drinking vessel that was laterreused as a reliquary. Drinking vessels, including goblets, have beenfound buried in the walls of churches, with their sacred contents—oftenphysical remains—sealed inside. We do not know exactly what is insidethis reliquary and we do not plan to open it.Reliquary for Saint MargaretProbably Spain, about 1578Blown glass; brass mount61.3.110The reliquary is inscribed, in Latin, ―Hoc do Antonius Maria Tosileriusdonavit Divae Margarite 1578‖ (I, A. M. Tosilerius, give this to SaintMargaret, 1578).15
Specimen GlassUnited States, possibly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about 1820–1840Blown glass; painted metal lid2005.4.32, gift of Harley N. TriceThe silver tag attached with a string to the stem of this glass bears thewords ―The Wistar/1465/Institute.‖ Inside the glass is a fragment,possibly of stone. The Wistar Institute is a biomedical research facility inPhiladelphia.Funny JarsNancy Jamison Adams (American, 1852–1932)Grace Steen Norman-Wilcox (American, 1898–1995)United States, Ohio and California, about 1860–1880 and about 1935–1955Found blown glass bottles; lacquered tin lids, mixed media85.4.28, .29, gift of Grace Norman-WilcoxThese keepsake jars were made by Adams and her granddaughter.Reliquary glasses can preserve human remains or other sacred contents,or they can hold cherished memories.Copy of a Patent for Preserving the Dead in GlassPatent No. 748,284, awarded to Joseph Karwowski, Herkimer, New Yorkby the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, dated December 29, 1903.The awarding of this patent is truly a mystery because the methoddescribed by Karwowski cannot work: the body would be burned by themolten glass used to encase it. The inventor wrote that this patent ―hasfor its object the provision of a means whereby a corpse may behermetically incased within a block of transparent glass . . . so that it willbe prevented from decay and will at all times present a life-likeappearance.‖Illustration of a Glass Casket from a Trade CatalogUnited States, Muskogee, Oklahoma, DeCamp Consolidated GlassCasket Company, 1929Glass coffins, which were cushioned with yards of fabric, were not meantto display the body but rather to hygienically protect it from theelements.SkullRaul Goldoni (Italian, b. 1919)Italy, Murano, 1970Hot-sculpted glass81.3.37Uranium glass (also called Vaseline glass) is characterized by intenseyellow to green colors that fluoresce bright green under ultraviolet light.It is made by adding uranium to the glass batch. Although mosturanium glass will register as radioactive (as can be seen on the Geigercounter placed among these glasses), the amount of radiation isnegligible, and the glass is considered safe to handle. The Bohemianglassmaker Josef Riedel is often credited with the first production ofuranium glass in 1830. Although i
Knife and Fork Probably Bohemia, about 1740–1750 Blown glass, gilded; metal 74.3.133 Knife and Fork Italy, 18th century Fused murrine, cut; metal 81.3.5, 81.3.6 Large Spoon United States, 1840–1870 Blown lead glass, cut 71.4.90 Knife, Fork, and
