POST MEDIEVAL INTAGLIO

1760

Post Medieval/Modern intaglio, identified by G Seidmann of Oxford University: a glass intaglio with faceted rim (?) which seems to be moulded (in the 18th or early 19th century) from a stone of 17th century date, and not a portrait but a fanciful image. James Tassie and his nephew and successor William Tassie produced several thousand moulded glass pastes: there is a catalogue by R E Raspe, which however has very few illustrations and those of famous stones. Edinburgh NPGallery has a collection of Tassie casts in red sulphur, which is, however, not published. It seems pretty certain to be one of those moulded glass casts - and Tassie was not the only manufacturer, but they are of roughly the same dates - 1760s-1850s.