Vase
Artist
William Arthur Smith Benson
(English, 1854 - 1924)
Manufacturer
James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars Glassworks)
(English, 1835 - 1981)
Dateca. 1880
MediumSilvered metal with glass
DimensionsOverall: 15 1/2 × 9 3/4 inches (39.37 × 24.77 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust through exchange of the gifts of Mrs. John W. Alexander, Raymond and Sydney Backstrom and Mrs. Jack Rieger, and another Trust property
Object number2010.19.2.A,B
On View
On viewGallery Location
- 127
Collections
DescriptionThree silvered metal acanthus leaves support a slightly ribbed, transparent olive green glass vase. The central stem of the leaves provide feet to lift the vase off the table and each leave s riveted to the other at the middle leaf points. The neck of the glass vase is flared and the base is pointed so that it cannot sit firmly on a table top.Gallery LabelClassically inspired acanthus leaves form the silvered metal framework that holds afloat a simple, green glass vessel. This lightness is a hallmark of William Arthur Smith Benson. He often combined the coldness and solidity of metal with the transparency of blown glass. Benson’s functional objects drew from historical forms and motifs that he simplified to create modern and forward-looking designs.
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