Images(13)

beaker

Object NameCovered Beaker with Gilded Mount

Made FromGlass, Silver, Gilding

Date1613

Place MadeGermany

TechniqueBlown, engraved, diamond-point (scratch) engraved

SizeOverall H: 28.5 cm

Accession Number89.3.27

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Museum Endowment Fund

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Exhibitions

Glass of the Alchemists: Lead Crystal-Gold Ruby, 1650–1750

On ViewEuropean Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

The coats of arms engraved on the beaker are those of Heinrich von Waldburg-Wolfegg (1568-1637) and his wife, Maria Jakoba, Countess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1577-1650). The beaker was probably intended to display religious relics or possibly natural curiosities.

Physical DescriptionCovered Beaker in Gilt Mount. Colorless with grey tint glass, gilt silver; blown, engraved, diamond-point (scratch) engraved, the silver mounts raised, chased, engraved and gilt. (a) Cylindrical straight-sided glass beaker with rounded base and flat bottom with rough pontil mark; rim mounted in silver gilt, rim of the mount flared slightly, with engraved vine on the exterior, above a molded, raised band, and cut and pierced stylized foliage below; glass beaker elaborately engraved with swags of flowers and foliage, with birds and butterflies, and with pendant floral streamers forming four panels; in these panels, two coats of arms, a monogram incorporating the initials "HIM," flanked by the date "1613," and a flying bird with a sprig in its beak; below, scattered sprays, with flowers, pea pods, a root vegetable (carrot?), strawberries, a gourd (?), grapes, a caterpillar, and a bird; (b) stand or foot for the beaker gilded on the exterior; cup-shaped top, rim cut and pierced in a border of stylized foliage, above a molded rim; lower part and bottom covered with punchwork in a vine (or root?) pattern; narrow collar below, with continuous diamond pattern on the sides, held onto the foot with bent, rounded tabs; domed foot with decoration matching that on the top; (c) cover, fitting over the rim on a) gilded; flat, circular form with slightly rounded, raised dome, dome decorated with punchwork in a pattern matching that on the foot, and a continuous vine border matching that on the rim of (a); raised center, pierced to receive the finial; finial with circular, ribbed canopy, above a capstan with central molded rib, and turned urn-shaped finial, tip broken and missing; underneath the finial, on the underside of the cover, a circular, slightly domed plate with engraved conjoined coats of arms, the date "1642" under a monogram representing a "W," and, below, the inscription "DD / IEVA."
Provenance

Source Lexbourne Ltd. - 1989-04-14

Former Collection British Rail Pension Trustee Company, Ltd.
British Rail Pension Trustee Company, Ltd., London