flint glass specimen jar that belonged to Louis Agassiz
Date: 1864-1866
Inventory Number: 1997-1-1568
Classification: Glassware
Dimensions:22 x 9 x 9 cm (8 11/16 x 3 9/16 x 3 9/16 in.)
Accessories: a series of booklets and documents related to the acquisition of this series of objects, now in this instrument's file: a) "The Agassiz Jar Collection, Bicentennial Edition" b) "Louis Agassiz and the History of the Collection, Commemorative Edition"; c: "Louis Agassiz and the History of the Jar Collection"; d) individual Certificate of Authenticity
Bibliography:Louis Agassiz and the History of the Jar Collection
The Agassiz Jar Collection. Bicentennial Edition
Louis Agassiz and the History of the Collection. Commemoriative Edition
Description:
A large, cylindrical glass jar with a wide mouth that is closed with a perfectly fitting ground glass stopper with a rectangular handle.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedon sticker: MT-1171
on sticker: 20.00 [its price]
orange label: DAVID / WHEATLAND
FunctionThis jar was used for keeping museum specimens. It was made of (then very expensive) flint glass so that it would not have the bluish color present in other types of glass, and its stopper seals the jar completely.
Historical AttributesThis is one of a series of five jars in the Collection that used to belong to Louis Agassiz. It was part of a very large set of specimen jars used at the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard University that he founded. Specimens were kept in these jars until the 1970s. According to the newspaper article kept in the jar, Agassiz invested a considerable fortune on these jars.
ProvenanceThe five specimen jars that belonged to Louis Agassiz remained in use at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, until they were sold off starting in 1976 by University Antiquaries Inc. They were acquired from them by David Wheatland in 1980.