Whiting Antique Sterling Silver and Ruby Glass Cracker Jar, NYC, NY, c. 1895

Made with blown-in glass, this spectacular cracker jar is stunning. The silver frame body was constructed with six sections of chased and pierced silver beautifully soldered together. Lovely scrolling devices and flowers and spreading leaves create wonderful scenes. Once the silver frame was attached to the rim and base, glass was blown into the frame. The pierced spaces within the silver allow the glass to naturally spread outwards, filling the spaces and creating an incredible, 3-dimensional surface. The glass is very thick and has a beautiful, deep, ruby color. Charles Osborne almost certainly designed this extraordinary piece.

Complimentary repoussé around the handle decorates the domed cover. Around the cover's edge, the jar is later engraved "1855 M 1905" - a very generous 50th-anniversary gift.

Only made for a few years, this style of silver with blown-in glass was difficult and expensive to create. Gorham's records indicate that J Hoare of Corning, NY, created the blown-in glass for Gorham. Hoare likely did the glass work for Whiting as well.

This rare covered jar is marked with Whiting's trademark and 'STERLING/ 925/1000 FINE/ 3367/ PAT. APPL'D FOR.' It is also stamped with an 'O' inside a rectangle. It measures 7 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall. Aside from not retaining most of the original gilding and a tiny fleck to the glass (can be seen in the video), the glass and silver are in excellent condition.