Thomas Webb & Sons Cameo Scent Bottle

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, earning them a prestigious reputation in the world of fine glassmaking.

This intricately crafted scent bottle exemplifies Thomas Webb & Sons' unrivaled expertise. The slender red bottle is layered with soft white overlay that has been delicately hand-carved into beautiful bamboo shoots that wrap around the bottle. The silver-gilt mount and cover, marked Sampson Mordan & Co., London 1884, elegantly complement the overall design. This fine glass scent bottle would have held perfumes and essential oils within its intricately decorated body.

Circa 1884

1” high x 1 1/4” wide x 5 1/2” deep

Provenance:
Dr. and Mrs. Leonard S. Rakow Collection, New York (by 1982)
Private collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
Sidney M. Goldstein, Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking, Corning 1982, pp. 88, 124, no. 124, illustrated

Exhibited:
New York, The Corning Museum of Glass, Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking, May 1-October 31, 1982, no. 124