Pitcher
ca. 1866
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
H. 9 3/16 in. (23.3 cm)
Classification
Pitcher
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.831
Art Historical Context
This elegant pitcher, crafted by the renowned Boston & Sandwich Glass Company 1866, exemplifies the pinnacle of American pressed glass production in the mid-19th century. at just over 9 inches tall, it hails from a pivotal era when New England's glass factories revolutionized household wares, making ornate designs accessible to middle-class families. The Boston & Sandwich Company, based in Massachusetts, was a leader in this industry, blending industrial innovation with decorative flair during the post-Civil War boom. Pressed glass, the medium here, marked a technological leap: molten glass w...
About the Artist
Boston & Sandwich Glass Company · 1825–1888
The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, a pioneering force in American glassmaking, was established in 1825 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, by visionary entrepreneur Deming Jarves, who had honed his expertise as an agent for the New England Glass Company in Cambridge. Jarves built the factory on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, incorporating it formally the following year with Boston investors. Drawing o...