Full-size pattern for facsimiles of outer portion of handle of Bryant Vase
When the original Bryant Vase (77.9a,b) was completed in silver, Tiffany & Co. preserved the model by making electroformed patterns, which could be used to make negative molds for the production of electrotyped copies of the vase. Although Tiffany did not produce this model for commercial sale, several copies were completed: one for presentation to the Century Association, members of which had commissioned the original Bryant Vase as a gift for fellow member William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878), and another to be given to the Village of Cummington, Massachusetts, where Bryant was born.
Among the many significant scientific advances of the early nineteenth century, the understanding of the basic principles of electricity was perhaps the most revolutionary. The invention of the electric battery in 1800 by the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta led to experiments in electrometallurgy, the method by which positively charged metal ions in a solution are deposited onto a negatively charged surface. When this process had matured into an industrially viable technology, it was one of the earliest commercial applications of electricity and had a transformative effect on metal refining, printing, and the manufacture of tablewares. Successful experiments in England (1801) and Italy (1805) led to the development of electroplating—depositing a thin layer of one metal onto another. It was soon discovered that the same technique could be used to duplicate an object by allowing the deposited layer of metal to build up in a mold, forming a substantial wall. The copy conformed so exquisitely to the mold that even the most delicate engraved lines were rendered. This technique, called electroforming or electrotyping, was the method used to create the patterns for the Bryant Vase.
Among the many significant scientific advances of the early nineteenth century, the understanding of the basic principles of electricity was perhaps the most revolutionary. The invention of the electric battery in 1800 by the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta led to experiments in electrometallurgy, the method by which positively charged metal ions in a solution are deposited onto a negatively charged surface. When this process had matured into an industrially viable technology, it was one of the earliest commercial applications of electricity and had a transformative effect on metal refining, printing, and the manufacture of tablewares. Successful experiments in England (1801) and Italy (1805) led to the development of electroplating—depositing a thin layer of one metal onto another. It was soon discovered that the same technique could be used to duplicate an object by allowing the deposited layer of metal to build up in a mold, forming a substantial wall. The copy conformed so exquisitely to the mold that even the most delicate engraved lines were rendered. This technique, called electroforming or electrotyping, was the method used to create the patterns for the Bryant Vase.
Artwork Details
- Title: Full-size pattern for facsimiles of outer portion of handle of Bryant Vase
- Maker: Tiffany & Co. (1837–present)
- Date: ca. 1875
- Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Copper, metal alloy, lead
- Dimensions: 14 × 6 1/4 × 3 1/2 in., 33 lb. (35.6 × 15.9 × 8.9 cm, 15 kg)
- Credit Line: Gift of Tiffany & Company, 1985
- Object Number: 1985.191.3h
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1875
Tiffany & Co.
late 19th–early 20th century
Tiffany & Co.
1905–15
Tiffany & Co.
1900–1905
Tiffany & Co.
1908
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.