Fles met het opschrift: Quae wennis teelt Schennis before 1692

This dark green glass bottle, whose maker is unknown, is adorned with the inscription 'Quae wennis teelt Schennis'. The bottle was created by glassblowing, a process dependent on the maker’s breath. Imagine the glassblower skillfully shaping the molten material with simple tools and well-honed techniques. This bottle reflects a highly specialized form of labor. It's not just about functional design; the engraved text suggests a social context, perhaps linked to taverns, where drinking was often a communal activity. The inscription suggests that ‘lust breeds disgrace’ and implies societal attitudes and moral values related to consumption and behavior. The maker had to be skilled in calligraphy as well as glass, to create a beautiful, useful, and cautionary object. Considering all the materials and processes used in making the bottle, and the world in which it was circulated, provides a richer understanding of its purpose. It also challenges our conventional notions of art, craft, and design.