Compote

Date1828-1835

Maker John Ritchie

Manufactured by Wheeling Flint Glass Works

MediumLeaded glass

DimensionsOH: 7 in.; Diameter: 11 in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, James R. and Judith M. Bowers, Nancy N. and Colin G. Campbell, Columbus Class of '66, Larry and Jan Emmons, Ms. Betty Jean Gearhart, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen V. Gearhart, Mr. and Mrs. F. Alec Gould, Dr. and Mrs. William M. Kelso, Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Lorence, Mr. and Mrs. Paul P. Luchsinger, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mallers, Mrs. Carolyn S. Olson, Parkview Health, Meredith and Joe Poole, III, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Ramige, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Strottman, Mr. and Mrs. Ned Stucky, Mr. Michael L. Westfall, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Winebrenner, and Col. and Mrs. Charles W. Yerkes, Jr. in Memory of Susan K. Westfall

Object number2018-229

DescriptionThe compote's bowl is cut with a broad band containing two bands of ovals, each of which touches its neighbors both within each band and within the other band. The space between four neighboring ovals, two from each band, is cut with a star. The extra space above and between the top ovals, and below and between the bottom ovals, is filled with fine vertical cut lines. Beneath this broad band is a continuous band of fine diamond cutting. The compote's foot was cut with a broad band of miter-shaped rays surrounding a broad polished disk that removed and hid the pontil scar left by the glass blower.
Label TextThe Wheeling Flint Glass Works was one of the factories at the forefront of what would become a burgeoning glass making industry in 19th-century America. After years of expermentation and attempting to compete with British and European imports, American manufacturers finally came into their own in the 1820s and 30s with ambitious objects like this handsome compote with its cut decoration that rivaled English examples of the same period. The compote was a form used on the table as a centerpiece and most often contained the food of the same name comprised of fruit cooked and served in a spiced surgar syrup.