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Toothpick Holder (Amerigo Vespucci & Christopher Columbus)

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
MEDIUM Glass
  • Place Manufactured: England
  • DATES ca. 1892
    DIMENSIONS 2 7/8 x 2 x 2 in. (7.3 x 5.1 x 5.1 cm)  (show scale)
    INSCRIPTIONS Molded inscription around Vespucci bust "AMERICUS VESPUCIUS" Molded inscription around Columbus bust: "1492 1892 / CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS"
    ACCESSION NUMBER 40.189
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mrs. William Greig Walker by subscription
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Colorless pressed glass toothpick holder with applied gilt accents. Square form with flared corners at top and bottom; bottom corners form feet. Each side is decorated with round medallion in molded relief and gilt accents: (1) profile bust of Amerigo Vespucci with inscription "AMERICUS VESPUCIUS"; (2) American eagle and shield; (3) profile head of Columbus with inscription "1492 1892 / CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS"; (4) heraldic shield topped by crown, shield contains four registers with a castle tower in two diagonally opposed registers and a rampant lion in the other two. CONDITION: Good; small chips along edges and feet; loss of gilding around upper edge and medallions.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
    CAPTION Toothpick Holder (Amerigo Vespucci & Christopher Columbus), ca. 1892. Glass, 2 7/8 x 2 x 2 in. (7.3 x 5.1 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. William Greig Walker by subscription, 40.189. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 40.189_acetate_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 40.189_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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