beaker
- Museum number
- AF.3147
- Description
-
Covered beaker of ruby glass in silver-gilt mounts. Vessel and cover both wheel-engraved with scrolls, fruit and birds; cover with plain flat mount; central standing female figure with cornucopia; embossed vertical ribs on foot mount. Maker's mark and hallmarks.
- Production date
- 17thC(late)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 21.50 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Text from Read and Tonnochy 1928, 'Catalogue of Silver Plate' (Franks Bequest):
The glass of this cup, and of AF3143, AF3144 and AF3146, is known as ruby glass (Ger. ‘Rubinglas’), a technique discovered by the well-known alchemist Johann Kunckel (1630-1703), who was in charge of an atelier of glass workers from 1678 to 1703; by the application of a gold solution, a brilliant ruby colour was imparted to the glass.
As the style of the ornament on the glass is not that of the Potsdam glasses, and as Augsburg silver mounts are found on many, it is evident that the technique spread farther and was practised in South Germany. The subject is treated and a number of these glasses described and illustrated in R. Schmidt, ‘Die Gläser der Sammlung Mühsam’, second edition, Berlin, 1926, pp. 47 ff. Examples in the Green Vaults at Dresden are described and figured in J. L. Sponsel, ‘Das Grüne Gewölbe &c’, I, p. 66, and pl. 63. Examples similar to the present number are shown in the illustration to R. Schmidt, as above, p. 51, no. 188.
M. Rosenberg, 'Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen', dritte erweiterte und illustrierte Auflage (3 vols.). Frankfort on the Main, 1922-5, nos. 195? and 708.
- Location
- On display (G46/dc19/sh3)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2009 Apr 4-Jul 19, London, V&A, Baroque 1620-1800: Style in the Age of Magnificence
- Acquisition date
- 1897
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- AF.3147
