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Object Name:

Cameo Vase

Title:

Muses

Maker(s):

Thomas Webb and Sons (f. 1837), Manufacturer

Woodall, Thomas (English, 1849-1926), Engraver

Woodall, George (English, 1850-1925), Engraver

Place Made:

England, Amblecote

Accession Number:

89.2.12

Dimensions:

Overall H: 19.8 cm, Diam: 10.8 cm

Location:

On Display

Date:

about 1885

Credit Line:

Gift of Juliette K. Rakow in memory of Leonard S. Rakow

Web Description:

The Muses is decorated with five standing figures, more than are shown on any other Woodall composition apart from Moorish Bathers (see 92.2.10). These figures are five of the nine Muses: Euterpe (the Muse of the flute and lyric poetry), Erato (the Muse of love poetry), Terpsichore (the Muse of dancing and choral song), Clio (the Muse of history), and Thalia (the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry). The designer (perhaps George Woodall) made a complete hash of the iconography. Euterpe is shown with a lyre instead of flutes, Thalia has flutes instead of a comic mask, and Clio holds a lyre instead of a scroll. (see George and Thomas Woodall, 92.2.10, and cameo glass in Stourbridge (89.2.11).

More Info

Department:

Modern

Provenance:

Rakow Estate, Juliette K. (Mrs. Leonard S.) (d. 1992), Source

1989-06-07

Color:

Opaque white, amethyst

Technique:

Blown, Overlaid, Etched, Cameo-carved

etching

Inscription:

T & G WOODALL. DES & SCULPS

Inscription

THOMA WEBB & SONS / GEM / CAMEO

Inscription

TERPISICHORE

Mark

EUTERPE

Mark

CLIO

Mark

THALIA

Mark

ERATO

Mark

Description

Primary Description:

Opaque white, amethyst lead glasses; blown, overlaid, etched, cameo-carved. Tall, ovoid shape; with flared rim and waisted neck; white overlay on amethyst; the white carved to create a stylized border of foliage and flowers on the neck; sides with five full-length female figures, one playing pipes identified as "THALIA," another with a lyre identified as "CLIO," another with billowing dress identified as "TERPSICHORE," another holding a head in one hand, a spear in the other, identified as "ERATO," and the fifth with a harp identified as "EUTERPE"; figures separated by pendant foliage and growing plants; the identities of the Muses in a band below the figures; acanthus leaves and stylized foliage border below; foot rim ground flat, with acid-etched inscription "- T & G WOODALL. DES & SCULPS."; ground concave pontil mark, with acid-etched inscription " THOMAS WEBB & SONS" in an arc, above "GEM / CAMEO."

Exhibitions (2)

Woodall Cameo Millenium

Venue(s)

Broadfield House Glass Museum 2000-05-08 through 2001-01-30

Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking

Venue(s)

Corning Museum of Glass 1982-05-01 through 1982-10-31

Cameo glass, one of the most costly and difficult decorating techniques since first century B.C., is documented and illustrated in this catalog. Included are examples from Rome, Islam, and China, as well as English 19th-century masterpieces by John Northwood and George Woodall among others. For the purposes of this catalog, the term “cameo glass” is used to refer to cased glass objects with two or more differently colored layers. The outer layer is usually an opaque or opalescent white, and the outer layer or layers have been carved in to leave the decoration standing in relief against a body of contrasting color. Shading is produced by thinning down the carved layer; highlights are created where the glass is left thickest. Both this catalog, and the exhibition for which it was created, documents the 2000-year cameo glass tradition.