A show-stopping cut-glass punch bowl

Libbey Glass Company, Punch Bowl and stand with 23 cups, 1904, thick colorless glass, 54.6 x 60.6 x 60.6 cm, 134 pounds (Toledo Museum of Art)
Speakers: Diane Wright, Curator of Glass and Decorative Arts, Toledo Museum of Art and Beth Harris
A Seeing America video

[@maple1255]

Extraordinary craftsmanship, so beautiful!

[@h31763]

Nothing in the world was or is comparable to American brilliant period cut glass.

[@oltedders]

If you like that over wrought, over produced and sadly imitated tired look of sparkley glass. The innovations in glass produced in the period from 1830-1850 is far more interesting. Of course the later cased cut to clear was initially quite impressive.

[@paulmoore6175]

We have a smaller version of this bowl & stand...still an enormous show stopper in the front hall of mother's condo. All I know about it is that my grandfather purchased it at the outbreak of World War II. And I've poured hundreds of gallons of Orange Blossoms into it at Boxing Day parties. 🙂

[@wobegon4454]

Excellent

[@alfredoechevarrieta7512]

Imposible de creer!!!... Pero ahí está.

[@Kriztastic]

Beautiful! But once lead is incorporated into the base batch (what is melted down to make the molten material), it is then considered crystal. Making it stronger, shine more, and I’m sure you could make those matching goblets “sing” beautifully

[@Sasha0927]

Immediate reaction: GOOD LORD! 😮
Yet another new frontier for me on Smarthistory - I'm excited to learn of this Brilliant Period and how cut glass works. So interesting. I even got to see a sample of it being done! Y'all know I love that, lol. Gotta share this one. 🥰

[@TrilobiteTerror]

Dipped in hydrofluoric acid? I hope they had good PPE during the turn of the century, lol.

[@carlomarcial4831]

My late mother have a crystal bowl pass on ti her my her grandmother. Said crystal we do believe made in the late 18th century to the early 19th century. May I send you some photos for your evaluation and appraisal. Thank you so much. God bless

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Thank you for reaching out. We do not do appraisals or authentication work. That is an entirely different role. We wish you the best.

[@zohrehzand1300]

Imagine washing the bowl. Must be heavy.

[@Zelomeisterdude]

Beautiful bowl and nice video. One thing, I'm trying to make out what the narrator says toward the end of this statement (at the 1:54 mark):
"But in the 19th century this would have been dipped in the higher (??), to give it this final polish and shine."

[@smarthistory-art-history]

a type of acid bath

[@Zelomeisterdude]

@@smarthistory-art-history Thank you for the quick reply. I did assume she was talking about some kind of acid bath (it's just driving me nuts I can't make out the specific word(s) she's saying to describe it...LOL).

[@smarthistory-art-history]

I think she says "hydrofluoric acid." -SZ

[@Zelomeisterdude]

@@smarthistory-art-history Ah, yes, that does seem to be what she is saying. Thanks again.

[@Zelomeisterdude]

@cloudtoground Ah, I forgot there were subtitles. I will have to remember that. Thanks

[@crewf-1652]

This was cut by John Denman ( the man pictured ) His daughter was Peggy, her son Norman, His son Karl and his son and daughter Noah and Keerah.

[@HandJvlogs]

Please do more from TMA!

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We will!

[@oltedders]

There is no 1870s brilliant cut glass. The earliest pieces date from the 1880s. Ten years is a significant amount of time in the development of 19th century glass.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Many reputable sources cite the the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as exhibiting American brilliant cut glass.

[@oltedders]

@@smarthistory-art-history
Thank you for that. I had not seen that reference in any of the books on 19th century glass that I have read. The introduction of cheaper lime glass in the 1870s was also the start of widely available pressed glass in new and updated patterns. Copies of earlier cut glass patterns would still mimic the optical effects seen on those pieces, not the complex patterns of reflective V cuts that were the basis of brilliant cut glass.

[@oltedders]

@@smarthistory-art-history
Citations for an 1876 origin of brilliant cut glass abound. Photos of extant examples or even illustrations of the patterns are virtually non existent, if any.

[@oltedders]

Citations from whom? Attendees of the Centennial Exhibition perhaps? Or anecdotal descriptions by early 20th century glass historians?
Odd that something as revolutionary as a new chapter in the history of glass making has no extant examples, no pattern books, working drawings nor even PHOTOS to record a complete change in the direction of decorating glass. I believe my scepticism is justified.

[@ricksloves1559]

Dorflinger and Mt Washington Glass were in business long before 1880 and Hawkes went into business in 1880 after he work at another Cut Glass Factory and ABP was being made from 1868 forward New England Glass was re-named Libbey Cut Glass but all the old company's Started off with there names .... Flint Glass and then over time changed there names from that to Rich Cut Glass or just dropped the Flint Glass at the end of there name, Also There was a Company Named Boston and Sandwich which produced ABP before it went out of business , oh and by the way they were all owned my Deming Jarves who own out right the Boston and Sandwich Company and the Mt. Washington Glass Company as well as co=owner of New England -Libbey Glass Company.So yes many many ABP piece were made before 1880 as stated buy Swan and R.V. Smith,Revi ,and Spillman.