Cobalt blue glass vase with Mary Gregory-style white enamel decoration

Mary Gregory-style glassware originated in the late 19th century, featuring white enamel silhouettes of children and pastoral scenes on colored glass. While originally attributed to a woman named Mary Gregory who supposedly worked at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, modern research indicates this attribution is incorrect, and the style actually developed in Central Europe. These decorative pieces gained popularity during the Victorian era when sentimental imagery of children was highly fashionable. Collectors of Victorian and Art Nouveau decorative arts particularly value these pieces for their distinctive cobalt blue glass and charming white silhouette decorations. The style continues to be appreciated for its nostalgic appeal and representation of a specific aesthetic period in glassware production.