Elgin Vase

work by Northwood

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June 26, 2026

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The Elgin Vase was created by English glassmaker John Northwood in 1873. It is a two-handled urn encircled by a carved frieze and decorated with etched classical motifs. Northwood was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman glassworking methods, particularly cameo glass, and studied both the Elgin Marbles and the Portland Vase at the British Museum for his creation. Northwood also developed a glass-etching machine to aid other British glassworkers. His most famous work, a copy of the Portland Vase completed in 1876, was a masterful reproduction of the Roman original using cameo glass techniques.12

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John Northwood
…Northwood began work on his Elgin Vase (1873), commissioned by the glass-factory owner Benjamin Stone. The two-handled urn—encircled by a frieze carved in relief and decorated with etched classical motifs—inspired many British glassworkers to similarly embellish their works, with the aid of a glass-etching machine developed by Northwood himself.
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…Northwood began work on his Elgin Vase (1873), commissioned by the glass-factory owner Benjamin Stone. The two-handled urn—encircled by a frieze carved in relief and decorated with etched classical motifs—inspired many British glassworkers to similarly embellish their works, with the aid of a glass-etching machine developed by Northwood himself.
Read More