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Thomas Webb & Sons, Stourbridge, England
George Woodall Designer
Antarctic Vase, ca. 1905-1918
Blown glass, 14 x 3 7/16 inches
Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

This "antarctic" cameo vase and stand was designed and carved by George Woodall in 1912 to commemorate the Robert Falcon Scott Antarctic Polar Exploration of 1901-1904. It is made of acid etched and cameo carved opaque white glass over citron colored glass. The image of the ice-bound, steam barque, DISCOVERY derives from a watercolor by E.A. Wilson first published in 1905. The curtain-like motif below the icicles on the neck of the vase represents the aurora australis or southern lights. Antarctic birds shown include penguins, petrels, and gulls. The walrus, an animal native to the Arctic, was evidently included by mistake.

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