Box in Glass Furnace Form

Object Name: 
Box in Glass Furnace Form

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: 
Box in Glass Furnace Form
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
87.7.18
Dimensions: 
(a) Box H: 4 cm, W: 3.7 cm, W: 4.2 cm; (b) Bottle H: 2.9 cm; (c) Bottle H: 2.7 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1675-1725
Credit Line: 
Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr.
Primary Description: 
Colorless non-lead glass, gold, fabric; blown, cut, raised, engraved, enameled, soldered, assembled. (a) Represents glassmaker's furnace; rectangular cross-section with chamfered corners; top hinged of domed shape; octagonal chimney with strap over top, engraved to represent masonry; dome with 4 cowls with masonry and acanthus leaves; band encircles cover below dome, with band of masonry on flat sides below; cover hinged to back of box; pin at front with catch to hold cover; sides of box with masonry and foliage; sides with figures making glass; on front man at glassmaker's chair, one stands blowing on pipe with gather at end, side of oven open above, shows beakers and bottle, narrow ledge below; on left side a figure reaches in opening to withdraw bottle; on reverse a man forms melting pot, figure at right pounds in mortar with opening in furnace beside them holding beakers and bottle with narrow ledge below; last side, man kneels shoving wood in opening at bottom of furnace; opening above contains beaker; the short sides with oval recesses; flat octagonal base with foliate design in center with foliate wreath around edge; box has marks in places: capital "A" in lozenge on side of cover; script "V" in shaped compartment on cover; interior of box fitted with lining with openings for bottles, lined, outlined with cable-gimp, edge outlined; hole at front for funnel; (b,c) glass bottles blown and cut; straight-sided, panel-cut sides; short, necks, ground; polished bases; fitted with domed covers; tops with ribbing around circles, sides waisted; inside straight pin threaded at end; (c) with cork and nut at tip of pin; caps with marks: eagle's head, fleur-de-lis follows outlines, script "V" in shaped panel, and capital "A" in lozenge-shaped compartment; (d) funnel with ovoid top with tiny straight tube extending from center stamped with the same marks as on covers on (b-c). See Notepad Full Desc 1988-01-13 for complete description.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Houghton, Arthur A. Jr., Former Collection
1987-12-04
For Milady's Dressing Table: Scent Bottles & Accessories (2006-06) illustrated, p. 10; BIB# AI71266
Roman Glass: Reflections on Cultural Change (1999) illustrated, p. 134, Plate E.134; BIB# 72068
Recent Important Acquisitions, 30 (1988) illustrated, p. 104, #8a-8b; BIB# AI20606
The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 1987 (1988) illustrated, pp. 5-6; BIB# AI96382
II. A Gold and Enamel Box in the Form of a Glass Furnace (1978) illustrated, pp. 34-44, figs. 1-4, 7-8;
Important Gold Boxes (1970-11-19) illustrated, Lot #43, p. 36;