Victorian parlor fountain

A crystal parlor fountain, 1871. This parlor fountain is made from gilted metal, white marble, and cranberry-colored glass. The scrolling pierced trestle framework attaches to the square base and supports the two revolving water-filled bulbs and the ruffled fountain above them. The fountain is marked "Boston 1871".

Joseph Storer first patended these parlor fountains in England in 1870 followed by the United States in 1871. He sold the American rights to manufacturer James W. Tufts of Boston who marketed the novelty as "perpetual fountain." These fountains were meant to adorn home parlors, shop windows, drawing rooms, libraries and the like.