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Object Record
Images
Additional Images [15]
Metadata
Object name |
Chest, Liquor |
Artist or maker |
unknown |
Date |
18th century |
Place of origin |
Europe |
Materials and techniques |
wood, metal, glass |
Physical description |
Liquor chest belonging to Baron von Steuben, Major General and Inspector General of Continental Army 1778- 1784. Its casing is made of wood bound with iron bands and twisted iron handles. The set overall consists of 20 pieces of glass decorated with gold details. |
Historical context |
Liquor chest of Baron Steuben, Major General and Inspector General of Continental Army 1778- 1784. The set is well preserved and consists of 20 pieces of glass decorated with gold details. The case is of wood bound with iron bands and twisted iron handles Analysis of the glass composition was conducted by Mark Wypyski at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Results confirmed that the glass is a potash-lime-silica composition, with a high per-centage of potash. Similar glasses were produced by John Frederick Amelung at the New Bremen glass factory near Frederick, Maryland in the late 18th century; however a comparable example is found in published 18th Century Bohemian glass as well. Given the Baron's European origins as well as his American appointment, it is unclear at this time where the glass was manufactured. See Brill, 1999. Elemental analysis was performed with an Oxford Instruments AZtec Energy Microanalysis system with an X-MaxN 80 energy dispersive X-ray silicon drift detector, operated with a Zeiss Sigma HD variable pressure scanning electron microscope. Before analysis, the sample was first embedded in epoxy resin, polished and given a carbon coating of 10 nm thickness. The analyses were conducted under high vacuum conditions at an accelerating voltage of 20.0 kV and a specimen current of approximately 0.5 nA. Final oxide weight percentage results were calculated using appropriate glass standards and well characterized reference glasses. Set includes: 6 large bottles, 6 small bottles, 2 pourers, 3 glasses, 1 dish and 1 removable wooden tray There is another set like this one in Washington D.C. owned by General Washington. |
Past exhibit |
Valuable |
Current exhibit |
The Long Room |
Catalogue number |
1920.04.001 |
Collection name |
Furniture and Decorative Arts |
Credit line |
Gift of Mary Fuller |
People |
Steuben, Baron Wilhelm von |
Subjects and places |
Europe |