Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
Pair of Furniture Knobs

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Pair of Furniture Knobs
Datec. 1829–1840
Made inSandwich, Massachusetts, United States
MediumLead glass
DimensionsEach: 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 in. (3.2 x 2.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Settler's Hardware and Susan Neptune
Object numberB.2012.44.1,.2
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Kilroy Center
On view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

As early as 1817, Henry Bradshaw Fearon, a British traveler, commented on the dazzling effects of the cut glass hardware that he observed on New York cabinetwork. While furniture knobs were initially fashioned of cut glass, with the introduction of machine pressing in the late 1820s, this form was among the first to be mass-produced.

The earliest known patent to mention pressing glass was issued on November 4, 1826, to Henry Whitney and Enoch Robinson of the New England Glass Company. The instant and widespread popularity of this invention is inferred from Whitney and Robinson’s claim that in 1827 and 1828 they had produced no less than 30,000 knobs. Within the decade at least twenty-four patents were granted for pressing glass, and thirteen of those specifically described the design or production of furniture and doorknobs. The fashion for the glass knobs in pressed designs for stylish mahogany and figured maple furniture spanned a generation before it began to decline about 1850.


Provenance[Ian Simmonds, Dobbs Ferry, New York]; purchased by Susan Neptune, Houston; given to MFAH, 2012.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Kerosene Lamp
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1860–1880
Lead glass, gilt brass, and marble
B.2022.9.A-.D
Cream Jug
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1825–1840
Lead glass
B.69.477
Pitcher
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1825–1845
Lead glass
B.2003.5
Saltcellar
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1825–1840
Lead glass
B.69.493
Compote
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1845–1855
Lead glass
B.70.8
Kerosene Lamp
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1860–1880
Lead glass, gilding, and brass
B.2003.17
Windowpane
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1840–1860
Lead glass
B.96.7
Pair of Burning-Fluid Lamps
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1850–1860
Glass, brass, and pewter
B.2017.8.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1820–1830
Blown-molded and pressed glass with base metal and lacquer
B.2004.7.1,.2
Saltcellar
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1830–1850
Nonlead glass
B.78.8
Cream Jug
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1831–1845
Glass and silver
B.2011.7
Kerosene Lamp
Boston and Sandwich Glass Co.
c. 1865–1880
Glass and brass
B.2009.7.A-.C