Skip to main content

Bishop mug

Thomas Cains (1779–1865)
Phoenix Glass Works , about 1824 - about 1870
South Boston Flint Glass Works (active about 1812–about 1836)
about 1821–25
Object PlaceSouth Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/TechniqueColorless free-blown flint glass, applied decoration; one coin
Dimensions23.81 x 21.27 cm (9 3/8 x 8 3/8 in.)
Credit LineGift of William, Nancy and Malcolm in Loving memory of their father William L. Johnston, Great-Great-Grandson of Thomas Cains
Accession number1995.765
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsGlass
Collections
Description
Thomas Cains, the son of a Gloucestershire glassblower, was apprenticed at the Phoenix Glassworks of Wadham, Ricketts, and Company in Bristol, England. As part of an initiative to attract skilled glassmakers to the United States, he was secretly recruited by Charles F. Kupfer, an agent of the Boston Glass Manufactory. Cains arrived in Boston in April 1812, just before the beginning of the War of 1812.  After the war's end in 1815, Cains utilized his expertise to produce a full line of table glassware at the South Boston Flint Glass Works. Later, he established a new enterprise, eventually called the Phoenix Glass Works, perhaps after his old company in England, and this mug may have been made there in the early 1820s.This large footed mug is embellished with applied bands of chain decoration-generally regarded as a characteristic of Cains's glass-around the widest section of the lower body. An 1821 American silver quarter dollar is housed within its hollow stem, an unusual feature strongly associated with Cains's work. The mug and another piece of glass descended directly in the family of Thomas Cains to his great-great-grandson, whose children gave them to the MFA in honor of their father. This important history elevates the mug into a virtual Rosetta stone for identifying other pieces of Cains's chain-decorated glass. Always known in the family as the "Bishop's Mug," the vessel-possibly a presentation piece-was probably used to serve a beverage known as bishop, a mulled port wine flavored with roasted oranges and cloves. This text was adapted from Ward, et al., MFA Highlights: American Decorative Arts & Sculpture (Boston, 2006) available at www.mfashop.com/mfa-publications.html.
Attributed to Thomas CainsAmerican (born in England), 1779-1865South Boston Flint Glass Works (active about 1812-1836) or Phoenix Glass Works (active about 1824-1870)Bishop's mugSouth Boston, about 1825Colorless free-blown flint glass; applied decorationGift of William, Nancy, and Malcolm in loving memory of their father William L. Johnston, great-great grandson of Thomas Cains, 1995  1995.765
ProvenanceDescended through the artist's family. Placed on loan to the Museum on August 9, 1972, by William L. Johnston, Winchester, Mass.; descended to his wife Catherine M. Johnston in 1991-92; given to the Museum by their children in 1995.
Pitcher
Thomas Cains
after 1838
Pitcher
Thomas Cains
about 1813–35
Footed tumbler
Thomas Cains
after 1829
Bowl
Thomas Cains
Early 19th century
Bowl
Thomas Cains
1813–25
Bowl
Thomas Cains
1813–25
Decanter
Thomas Cains
1813–30
Decanter
Thomas Cains
1813–30
Mug
Thomas Cains
after 1820
Compote
Thomas Cains
1825
Covered Sugar Bowl
Thomas Cains
after 1821