General Antiques and Collectibles Spring Auction
Lot 237:
Description
C-17803
Hand-blown glass cane with a graceful shepherd’s crook handle and elongated, twisted shaft rendered in clear aqua-tinted glass. The form captures the elegance and novelty craftsmanship of the late Victorian period, when glass canes were created as showpieces for world expositions, glasshouse demonstrations, and parlor displays rather than for use as walking sticks. The twisted stem and fluidly bent handle demonstrate the technical control required of master glassworkers operating without molds-each example being unique to the hand that shaped it. During the late 1800s, glass canes became popular as tokens of admiration or souvenirs from major glassworks such as those in Stourbridge, England, and American houses like New England Glass Co. and Boston & Sandwich. They were often given as gifts to mark a craftsman’s skill or as commemorative curios at fairs and exhibitions. This piece reflects that tradition with a refined twist pattern and subtle greenish hue typical of soda-lime glass from the period.
Light surface wear consistent with age; no noted cracks or repairs.
36" L
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