The Ailsa Jug

Notice of Upcoming Content and Access Change

The Museum is working on the future of our online collections access. A new version will be available later in 2023. During this transition period, the current version of the Collections Browser may have reduced functionality and data may be not be updated. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For any questions or concerns, please contact us.

What is AAT?

The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) (r) is a structured vocabulary for generic concepts related to art and architecture. It was developed by The Getty Research Institute to help research institutions become consistent in the terminology they use.Learn More

Object Name: 
Jug
Title: 
The Ailsa Jug
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
86.2.43
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 33.3 cm, W: 18.2 cm; Body Diam: 17.5 cm
Location: 
Not on Display
Date: 
1862
Credit Line: 
Gift of Elizabeth Voorhees Webster and Mildred Voorhees Brainard in memory of Charles H. and Alice Wendt Voohees
Primary Description: 
Colorless lead glass; blown, engraved. Ovoid body; cylindrical neck with flaring rim; rounded bulge at the base of the neck, above the ovoid body; applied flat strap handle in the shape of a numeral "7"; applied domed foot; finely engraved Renaissance Revival style decoration; a band of tiny dots, a wave pattern, a band of thin vertical lines, a band of tiny polished dots on a matte background, and another band of tiny dots, all on the outside of the flared rim; above a band of stylized foliage, a row of tiny dots, and a row of polished dots on a matte background, at the top of the neck; the neck with a wide band, divided into narrow vertical panels by sets of three thin lines, each panel with (alternately) vertical bands of stylized foliage or vertical rows of tiny dots; three horizontal lines above a band of polished dots on a matte background, two lines, and a row of tiny dots, at the joint of neck and bulge; ribbed narrow band with semicircular reveals, with half stars, at the top of the bulge, with pendant swags of foliage and stars, and overlapping pendant swags of polished dots of graduated size; at the base of the bulge, a joint with the body, bands of tiny waves, polished dots on a matte background, tiny matte dots, a ribbed band with angular projections, and pendant foliage; the body with elaborate four-tiered fountains on either side, with petal edges on the basins, the water in polished engraving; elaborate foliate devices springing from the lower basin, with swans; on the front and back, arrangements of three elaborate cornucopias of flowers and fruit; complex bands at the base, relating to those on the neck; engraved bands of dots flanking a matte band of polished dots on the foot; the handle with foliate vine on the flat side, with oval of polished dots at the base; the sides with engraved bands matching those on the foot; polished, flat foot rim; polished pontil mark.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Webster, Elizabeth Voorhees, Source
1986-11-14
Brainard, Mildred Voorhees, Source
1986-11-14
Glass From World's Fairs, 1851-1904
Venue(s)
Corning Museum of Glass 1986 through 1986
London International Exhibition
 
Paul Oppitz (1827-1894) (2006) illustrated, pp. 65-66; p. 70, pl. 5;
An Introduction to The Corning Museum of Glass (1999) pp. 9-12; ill., p. 10; BIB# AI44099
Treasures from The Corning Museum of Glass (1992) illustrated, p. 90, #85; BIB# 35679
News from Corning: The Ailsa Jug (1987-07) p. 2;
Recent Important Acquisitions, 29 (1987) illustrated, p. 121, #27; BIB# AI19055
The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 1986 (1987) illustrated, pp. 6-7; BIB# AI96383
Glass from World's Fairs, 1851-1904 (1986) illustrated, 59 p.; BIB# 31404
Victorian Glass (1976) illustrated, p. 28, pl. 26; BIB# 19597
Ailsa Jug Fetches Top Price (1975-06) illustrated, pp. 118-120, #3; BIB# AI73410
European Glass and English Ceramics (Sotheby's Sale) (1975-02-20) illustrated, p. 11, #56; BIB# 16697
Times [London?] (1862-05-17)
Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition, 1862 (1862) illustrated, p. 212, ill., lower left; BIB# 27559