goblet

Object NameGoblet with "Grotesque" Decoration

Made FromGlass, Enamel

Dateabout 1500-1525

Place MadeItaly, Venice

TechniqueMold-blown, tooled; applied, gilt, enameled

SizeOverall H: 23.5 cm; Rim Diam: 14.4 cm; Base Diam: 12.8 cm

Accession Number53.3.38

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Exhibitions

Three Great Centuries of Venetian Glass

The Triumph of humanism: a visual survey of the decorative arts of the Renassaince

Treasures from The Corning Museum of Glass

Masterpieces of Glass from The Corning Museum of Glass

Liquid Refreshment: 2000 Years of Drinks and Drinking Glasses

The Art of Glass: Masterpieces from The Corning Museum of Glass

Renaissance Venice: Life and Luxury at the Crossroads

Gloria dell Arte

On ViewEuropean Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

The Italian word grottesco (“from a cave”) refers to a fanciful style of Ancient Roman decoration that was rediscovered during excavations in Italy during the 1400s.

Physical DescriptionGoblet. Flat based bowl of ogee profile joined by merese to three-part mold-blown (17 vertical ribs) stem consisting of central flattened knop cushioned above and below by smaller, similar knops; lower knop is fused to thick, solid peg, which joins stem to mold-blown (15 vertical ribs) pedestal foot, edge of which has strengthening thread applied to its upper surface; at apex of foot is exceptionally large pontil mark. Around base of bowl is applied cordon of glass that has been tooled into frill and is gilded. Stem and foot are gilded, with semée d’or (sown with gold) effect.

Bowl enameled with overall design of putti disporting themselves among various Renaissance attributes. They are painted in opaque white touched with flesh (pink) tones, with all details rendered in black lines. In upper register, four winged putti sit astride pendent swags of green leaves bound with polychrome ribbons and embellished with central polychrome rosette. Putti have yellow wings and either red bootees laced with yellow or yellow bootees laced with black. They hold yellow crosier-like scrolls. Between and below them are four dancing putti, wingless but wearing bootees of green and blue. They grasp red and yellow ribbons that are suspended from blue canopies with red and yellow lappet fringes. Between these putti and somewhat below them are trophies of crossed narrow shields issuing from vases and surmounted alternately by barrel with crossed arrows and symmetrical lyre like arrangement of leafy scrollwork. Loops holding leaf swags of upper register are painted in yellow overlying red; gold leaf of upper border has been scratched away to receive them. This border is scratched with scale design entwined by dots of white enamel, and it is bordered above and below by single line of blue dots.
Provenance

Source Fahim Kouchakji (b. Syria, 1886-1976) - 1953

Former Collection Gustave de Rothschild