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Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
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Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase

  • This spectacular cameo glass bottle vase was crafted by famed English firm Thomas Webb & Sons
  • The tri-color vase is overlaid in translucent red and opaque white, carved to reveal yellow glass
  • This important vessel has been both published and exhibited in major cameo glass scholarship
  • Thomas Webb & Sons revolutionized cameo glass and earned their place as "The Crystal King of England"
  • Get complete item description here
$18,850
Item No. 31-9574

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Description
Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with the firm of Thomas Webb & Sons standing out as the most accomplished. Webb’s cameo masterpieces surpassed those of their major French contemporaries in finesse and artistry. At Webb & Sons, the renowned brothers Thomas and George Woodall managed the cameo glass operations, ensuring the. . .
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Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with the firm of Thomas Webb & Sons standing out as the most accomplished. Webb’s cameo masterpieces surpassed those of their major French contemporaries in finesse and artistry. At Webb & Sons, the renowned brothers Thomas and George Woodall managed the cameo glass operations, ensuring the creation of glassworks that were exceptionally exquisite and rarely seen on the market today.

This intricately crafted bottle vase exemplifies Thomas Webb & Sons' unparalleled expertise. The slender vase stands gracefully, overlaid in translucent red and opaque white, and carved through to the amber yellow glass beneath. The delicately hand-carved rose branch motif wraps beautifully around the body of the vase, with the charming surprise of a butterfly fluttering across the back of the vase.

Born into a lineage of glassmakers, Thomas Wilkes Webb founded Thomas Webb & Sons in 1837, revolutionizing the market with high-quality engraved crystal and colored glass. His significant contributions earned him the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and the company gained renown as "The Crystal King of England." After his death in 1869, his sons Thomas, Charles, and Walter further elevated the company by improving working conditions and fostering creativity among their craftsmen. They hired notable artisans Thomas and his brother George Woodall, as well as art director James O’Fallon, who played pivotal roles in developing new cameo glass designs. The Woodall brothers, the master cameo artists, were instrumental in the success of Thomas Webb & Sons.

Circa 1884

10 3/4” high x 3 1/2” diameter

Provenance:
Leo Kaplan Antiques, New York (by 1982)
Private collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
A photograph of the present vase features in a Thomas Webb & Sons sales catalogue, circa 1884-1886, reproduced in Woodall Perry (cited below). In the photograph the vase is labeled L407, which the author suggests may be for Lionel Pearce
Sidney M. Goldstein, Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking, Corning 1982, pp. 87, 122, no. 109, illustrated (as probably Thomas Webb & Sons, one of a pair)
Christopher Woodall Perry, The Cameo Glass of George Woodall, Shepton Beauchamp 2000, p. 26, illustrated

Exhibited:
New York, The Corning Museum of Glass, Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking, May 1-October 31, 1982, no. 109
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Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
Maker: Thomas Webb
Period: 19th Century
Origin: England
Type: Vases/Rose Bowls
Style: Cameo
Depth: 3.5 in. (8.89 cm)
Width: 3.5 in. (8.89 cm)
Height: 10.75 in. (27.31 cm)
Thomas Webb & Sons Tri-Color Cameo Vase
History and Techniques of Cameo Glass

Glass is among the oldest media artists have utilized for creative expression. It has been known to humanity for centuries, and most scholars agree that the first glass objects date back to around...

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Buy with Confidence

At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

Learn More

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The M.S. Rau Difference

The M.S. Rau Difference

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M.S. Rau is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private collections; many are fresh to the market. Founded on Bill Rau’s expertise in the field, our specialisms range from Old Master pictures to Modern Art masterpieces. We regularly exhibit Dutch, Flemish, and Italian Old Masters, Academic, Orientalist, Barbizon, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Maritime & Sporting, British Neoclassical and American Illustration.

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For more than a century, M.S. Rau has offered clients a superb selection of the highest quality jewelry. From the rarest colored diamonds, to the most sublime gemstones, to the most exquisite designer jewelry, M.S. Rau houses an extraordinary collection of fine jewels to satisfy the most discerning collector. Stunning creations by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Patek Philippe are offered alongside extreme rarities such as vivid yellow, pink and blue diamonds, coveted Burma and Kashmir sapphires and elusive Golconda diamonds prized for their fire and perfection. Iconic jewels from the Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods round out the collection.

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Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the. . .

Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful treasures has remained steadfast and our acquisition philosophy is simple: seek out and acquire only the very finest works whose provenance, beauty and rarity set them apart from all others. Our clients can be certain that each and every piece in our gallery has been hand-selected and carefully vetted for authenticity, condition and provenance. And, because our network of contacts spans generations, we are often able to acquire pieces that may have otherwise never been available on the market.

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