Skip to main content
Advanced Search
goblet
goblet

goblet

Object NameNuptial Goblet
Made FromGlass, Gold, Enamel
Date1500-1525
Place MadeItaly, Venice
TechniqueApplied, blow molding, gilt and enameled decoration
SizeOverall H: 19.9 cm; Rim Diam: 11.6 cm; Foot Diam: 10.3 cm
Accession Number79.3.170
Credit LineBequest of Jerome Strauss
Curatorial Area(s)
On ViewEuropean Gallery
Interpretive Notes
Goblets like this were traditionally given to celebrate a betrothal or a marriage.
Physical DescriptionNuptial Goblet. Translucent dark green. Blown, mold-blown; applied, tooled, enameled, gilded. Goblet. Ogee shaped bowl with fire-polished rim and flattened base, encircled by applied, pinched ribbon. Base of bowl is set directly on top of solid column, which is
decorated with three thick applied threads tooled into “vermicular collars,” lowest of which is in parts streaked with opaque red. Merese joins stem and foot. Mold-blown (17 vertical ribs) pedestal foot with infolded rim and pontil mark.

Bowl, stem, and foot show traces of gilding. Gilding on foot was split by subsequent working to produce “sprinkled” effect. Bowl is painted in enamel colors. Main decoration consists of two roundels outlined in green dots on gold ground. On one side is half length figure of young woman in red gown edged and gilded with yellow, with white puff sleeves and white ribbon floating behind her. Her flesh tones are rendered in white with pink washes, while her hair is painted in gold and brownish red. She wears thin necklace. In her left hand, she holds large red flower on long green stalk, with two scrolled stamens. Fine line on her shoulders may indicate either second necklace or edge of blouse. Above her head is sun, with sinuous rays; ground behind her is flecked with golden radiance.

On opposite side is Cupid, with red bow and quiver; one of his wings is red, and the other is blue. In background are trees and hill painted in dark green, with details in black. Above Cupid’s head is same golden sun, and sky is similarly irradiated.

Between panes are sprays of foliage, drawn by removing gold ground, and entwined by white dots. Below rim is horizontal border of dotted “rosettes” on gold ground, with five blue dots surrounding central red one. This border is edged by single row of white dots above and single row of green dots below, all on gold ground. Above this is single row of white dots. Lower border, bounded above and below by single line of green dots, consists of running plant scroll drawn in gold and enlivened by “flowers” rendered by blue dot in center and four red “petals.” Below this is single row of blue dots on gold ground, with groups of three white dots laid directly on glass.
Provenance
Source Jerome Strauss (1893-1978) - 1979
Former Collection Frederic Spitzer