goblet

Object NameFour Covered Goblets Engraved with the Four Continents

Maker Glücksburg Glasshouse

Made FromGlass

Dateabout 1710-1725

Place MadeGermany, Saxony

TechniqueBlown, cut, engraved

SizeEach Overall H: 44.0 cm; Foot Diam: 16.5 cm

Accession Number99.3.37

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Not On View

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

This set comes from the property of the princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein, a family documented in Germany since 1141.

Physical DescriptionFour Covered Goblets Engraved with the Four Continents. Colorless, with purplish tinge. Blown, cut, engraved. Four goblets, each with bell-shaped bowl with rounded and faceted base. Stem consists of faceted inverted baluster between faceted flattened
knops and mereses. Blown flat foot with rough pontil mark. Domed cover with folded rim and inset brim, top faceted as rosette, with finial in middle. Finial, faceted and shaped like pine cone, on merese, capstan, and faceted flattened knop. Foot is engraved with matte ring at rim.

On each bowl, set into approximate circle, engraved personification of a continent: (1) “Africa,” reclining nude female with sparse drapery and parasol, with bow and quiver in front of her; in background, lions, elephants, and nude family in front of tent and little town; (2) “America,” with Indian king sitting in front of palm tree and holding parrot in his left hand; in background, two naked Indians attacking alligator with
bow and spear; ( 3 ) “Asia,” in richly folded garment, wearing turban and sandals, with Saracen sword in front; in background, hilly landscape with two camels and two Orientals; and ( 4 ) “Evropa,” crowned female holding large cornucopia, with armor in front and shepherd, horses, and cows in landscape that includes steep mountains as well as seacoast.
Provenance

Source Gertrud Rudigier-Ruckert - 1999-11-19