Colorless blown and cut circuloid globular body rising from flat base, indented slightly at cylindrical neck with scalloped mouth forming a spout; cut decoration with fluted lower third of body and central diamond cut band surmounted by square facet cuts; lozenge facet cuts at neck; applied strap handle with ovoid cut along edge.
pitchers (vessels)
glassblowing
cutting (dividing)
lead glass
glass (material)
Vessel, Drink Serving
Pitcher
Pitcher, Water
Pitcher, Water
"Cherished Possessions": These cut glass pitchers belonged to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, merchant James Rundlet. They were most likely used for water, placed on the table throughout the meal. In The House Servant's Directory (1827), Robert Roberts recommended placing four or six water decanters or cut glass pitchers, on your supper table, as the company generally help themselves at supper without the formality of more attendance than is necessary for comfort.
Original to Rundlet-May House (Portsmouth, N.H.),
Unknown
Ireland
Gift of Ralph May
1971.986.2
Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact [email protected].