flint glass specimen jar that belonged to Louis Agassiz
Date: 1864-1866
Inventory Number: 1997-1-1574
Classification: Glassware
Attributed to: New England Glass Company (1818 - 1878)
Owner: Louis Agassiz (1807 - 1873)
Seller: University Antiquaries Inc. (1975 - 1982)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
30.5 x 12 x 12 cm (12 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 in.)
Material:
Accessories: a series of booklets and documents related to the acquisition of this series of objects, now in this instrument's file: a) a booklet called "Louis Agassiz and the History of the Jar Collection"; b) a small newspaper ad clipping (Christian Science Monitor) called "A Part of our Past" about the jars; an individual Certificate of Authenticity.
Other documents that came with this object are now part of the CHSI library: "The Agassiz Jar Collection, Bicentennial Edition" and Louis Agassiz and the History of the Collection, Commemorative Edition"
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 that curves a little to a wide mouth that is closed with a perfectly fitting ground glass stopper with a round flat knob as handle.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedround label: 30.00 [its price]
small rectangular label: MM / 809
orange label: DAVID / WHEATLAND
small rectangular label: MM / 809
orange label: DAVID / WHEATLAND
FunctionThis was jar 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.
Curatorial RemarksAccording to the newspaper article kept inside the jar No. 1997-1-1902, most of these jars were manufactured by the New England Glass Company, one of very few companies that worked flint glass at the time. The MCZ curator estimated the manufacturing date of the jar around 1864-66 (see certificate).
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.
