The Birth of Venus

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Object Name: 
Vase
Title: 
The Birth of Venus
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
93.2.6
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 28.2 cm, Diam: 13.2 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1877
Primary Description: 
Opaque white over deep blue glass, acid-dipped and cameo-carved. A frieze depicting Venus resting on waves, attended by two cupids with billowing drapes surrounds the body of the vessel. Pointed rays with linear detailing extend down its long, flared neck. The area of connection between body and foot is accentuated by deeply carved scrolls and stylized acanthus leaves. A similar border decorates the edge of the foot.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Rakow, Mrs. Leonard S. (d. 1992), Former Collection
Rakow, Dr. Leonard S., Former Collection
Kaplan, Leo (d. 2013), Source
1993-11-03
Inscription: 
Birth of Venus
Inscription
on base
Geo. Woodall
Signature
Signed at edge of cloud
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.
The Cameo Glass of Thomas and George Woodall (2000) illustrated, p. 92; BIB# 64626
Recent Important Acquisitions, 36 (1994) illustrated, p. 114, #22; BIB# AI33896
The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 1993 (1994) p. 7, ill.; BIB# AI95182
English Cameo Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass (1994) illustrated, pp. 27, 60, fig. 22; BIB# 35913
Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking (1982) illustrated, pp. 64, 111, #46; BIB# 30609