Thomas Webb & Sons

THOMAS WEBB & SONS. England ca. 1890.
Blown glass, hand painted.
Not signed.
It has a slight wear in the polychrome.
Measurements: 35 x 17 x 17 cm.

This vase has an oblong body that ends with a slightly flared neck, which undulates with graceful curves. Its translucent glass surface has been hand-painted with yellow flowers intertwined with organic growths in subtle shades of red and mauve, reflecting the fluidity and naturalistic inspiration of the period.

Thomas Webb & Sons was an English glassmaking firm founded in 1837 by Thomas Webb (1804-1869) near Stourbridge, England. The name T. Webb & Co. was adopted in 1842 and later became Thomas Webb & Sons. The firm, originally known as "Crystal King of England," was noted for the high quality of its Cameo crystal. In the 1870s, John Northwood produced the first pieces, inspired by the Portland vase. George Woodall would produce the most outstanding Webb Cameo works in the late 19th century. The finest and most valuable pieces were signed with the mark "GEM CAMEO," as Roman cameo glass was itself an imitation of the luxurious art form of cameo-engraved gems. In 1889, Thomas Webb & Sons obtained a U.S. patent for their process and, that same year, received a Grand Prix for their exquisite stained glass at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889. They were part of the Tiffany & Co. exhibit at the exposition.