Goblet

Tripartite glasses, composed of a foot, a stem and a bowl, only existed in the 16th century from its second half onwards. Especially toward the end of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century, many objects were created in which the limits of the possible were tested in a mannerist fashion, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship. This is evident here in the construction of the stem. Normally, stems consist of a continuous baluster or stalk-shaped element, more often they are also provided with an additional nodus (knop). Here, the stem is interrupted at the half-way point of the central axis. The lower and upper parts are held together by three elements of ribbed glass threads, each decorated with two blue berry-shaped prunts on pistils.

It cannot be absolutely excluded that the goblet was made in Venice. It is much more plausible, however, that it originated north of the Alps, most likely in the territory of the then Netherlands, possibly also in Germany, at any rate in a glassworks that worked à la façon de Venise. The assumption of its north alpine origin is based on various clues: no corresponding glasses seem to be known from Italy, nor are there any fragments from excavations. The surviving examples are found in collections north of the Alps, archaeological finds come from Belgium and north-eastern France. Glasses with similar stems are also found in paintings; the best known examples are those of the painter Georg Flegel, who worked mainly in Frankfurt. He died in 1638, which provides an indication for dating these pieces.

Now watch the films shown in the section you are currently located in. One of them was especially produced to demonstrate the manufacturing process of the piece exhibited here. We thank Bill Gudenrath and the Corning Museum of Glass for allowing us to show the film.