Emile Gallé (Nancy, France, 1846 - 1904, Nancy, France)
Vase: Soldanelle des Alpes, about 1892
Clear and colored glass, 11 cm (4 5/16 in.)
This vase is made in two layers of blown glass. A clear glass layer is encasing a deep violet one. The clear outer layer was blown and molded with designs of "soldonalle des alpes", alpine flowers. The colored inner layer was blown, giving the varied purplish color to the overall vase. The different shades of color depend on the thickness of the clear glass through which the colored layer is seen. The glassblower made the inner glass spill over the lip of the vase in short, thick cascades around it.
Titian Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.