Cleopatra

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: 
Vase
Title: 
Cleopatra
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
81.2.27
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 27.5 cm, W: 14.4 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1896
Credit Line: 
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard S. Rakow
Web Description: 
Cleopatra is shown standing in front of an elaborately carved Egyptian temple. In her right hand, she holds a sistrum, a musical instrument used in religious rituals. (see George Woodall, 92.2.10 and cameo glass in Stourbridge, 89.2.11).
Department: 
Provenance: 
Rakow Estate, Juliette K. (Mrs. Leonard S.) (d. 1992), Former Collection
1981-12-15
Rakow, Dr. Leonard S., Former Collection
1981-12-15
Inscription: 
CLEOPATRA
Engraved
Underside of foot rim
W2848
Mark
Side
THOMAS WEBB & SONS / GEM / CAMEO
Mark
E.I.PAGET / 218 / COLLECTION
Paper Label
Geo Woodall
Signature
Underside of foot rim
Primary Description: 
Translucent amethyst glass with opaque white overlay, cameo carved with scene of Cleopatra, stylized Egyptian design on back, around neck and base.
A Touch of Glass
Venue(s)
Explorers Hall, National Geographic Society 1995-02-15 through 1995-09-15
Egypt: The Source and The Legacy
Venue(s)
Sarah Lawrence College Art Gallery 1990-02-13 through 1990-04-22
 
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 illustrated encyclopedia of glass (2011) illustrated, p. 264 (right); BIB# 128671
Layers of Wonder: Majestic and Marvelous Cameo Glass (2003-05) illustrated, inset between pp. 40-41;
The Encyclopedia of Glass (2001) illustrated, p. 216 (right); BIB# 69319
English Cameo Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass (1994) illustrated, pp. 45, 62, fig. 41; BIB# 35913
Egypt: The Source and The Legacy (1989) p. 10; BIB# 33488
2,000 Years of Cameo Glass at The Corning Museum (1982-07) illustrated, p. 55; BIB# AI9264
The Corning Museum of Glass Annual Report 1981 (1982) illustrated, cover, p. 4; BIB# AI97141
Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking (1982) illustrated, pp. 79, 116, #74; BIB# 30609
Recent Important Acquisitions, 24 (1982) illustrated, cover, frontispiece; p. 104, #30; BIB# AI9252
English Cameo Glass (1980) pp. 53, 57, 163, fig. 127; p. 194; BIB# 20952