Past Imperfect, The Art of Inventive Repair

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is home to many examples of antiques (and antiquities) with inventive repairs. Some are on display for the public to see and many more are buried away in their vast archive collection.

This blown and engraved glass presentation goblet is inscribed in script on the back: “New Bremen Glassmanufactory, 1791” and is inscribed on the base: “Presented to Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania”. It was made by John Frederick Amelung in New Bremen, Maryland and measures 10″ tall. This goblet can be seen in the American Wing in a showcase on the second level.

Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Early American Pattern Glass goblet, also known to collectors as EAPG, in the “Wide Band Baby Thumbprint” pattern. Goblet stands 5″ high and is made of non-flint glass

It was not uncommon for goblets, which were used daily, to snap off at the base. And when they did, they were repaired at home with a carved wooden base such as this one, or taken to a tinsmith for a more lasting replacement

This is what the base would have looked like before the goblet slipped out of the original owner’s hands and on to the floor

Photo courtesy of Brey Antiques

An EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) flint glass goblet in the “Master Argus” pattern, measures 7-1/2″ tall

What makes this replaced wood base so special is that is is made from lignum vitae, a trade wood known for its combination of strength, density and toughness. According to T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King”, Merlin’s magical staff was made of lignum vitae. Sadly, this type of wood is now listed as a potentially endangered species.

This goblet, also in the “Master Argus” pattern still has its original base

Photo courtesy of All Antique Glass

American cut glass was first produced in 1771 by the American Flint Glass Manufactory in Manheim, PA. The heyday of brilliant cut glass in America was in the 1880’s, after the public viewed the latest designs on display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

Every facet of this 7-1/4″ tall wine glass has been cut by hand.

The painted wooden base with a whimsical stepped design, is a replacement created sometime in the early 1900’s.

Before the goblet broke in to two pieces, it would have had a faceted glass base, as shown here.

A geometric pattern flint glass goblet in the “Excelsior” pattern, measures 5-3/4″ high and was made by McKee Bros. of Pittsburgh, PA.

The original glass base was replaced with this most unusual 4-prong painted wood base, one of the more whimsical replacement bases I have ever seen.

The broken stem of the goblet can be seen on the underside.

Below is an intact “Excelsior” goblet with an offset-flute stem base. This is what my goblet would have looked like before its replaced inventive repair base was added .

Photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin