Relief cut glass tumbler

From Syria or Egypt, 12-13th century AD

A Hedwig glass

This is one of the biggest and finest 'Hedwig glasses', so called because they are said to have belonged to the Silesian Princess Saint Hedwig (1174-1245). Fourteen so far have been recorded, all of the same squat shape with a flange around the base and magnificent relief-cut decoration with hatched details. This example has the most varied decoration, with a fearsome eagle flanked by a griffin and a lion, with a palmette behind them.

Hedwig's abstention from wine made her husband, Henry I 'the Bearded', anxious for her health. However, one day he saw the water in her glass turn into wine as she lifted it to drink. In later centuries, a number of glass vessels in Germany were claimed to have been hers and to have miraculous properties.

The origin of the group of glasses has been much disputed, but the renowned rock crystal and glass cutting schools of Syria and Egypt could well have produced these magnificent examples of medieval glass.

Discover Islamic Art website

H. Tait (ed.), Five thousand years of glass (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)

B. Brend, Islamic art (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)