Bokaal van Zwischengoldglas, met Jozef die door zijn broeders in de put wordt geworpen c. 1730 - 1750

This is a Zwischengoldglas beaker, made by an anonymous artist, featuring an illustration of Joseph being thrown into a pit by his brothers. The beaker is striking for its combination of clear glass, gold leaf detailing, and silver stem. The decoration is organized in a frieze, where the scene of Joseph’s betrayal unfolds using delicate, almost miniaturist techniques. The choice of Zwischengoldglas, where gold leaf is sandwiched between layers of glass, adds a sense of depth and preciousness to the narrative. The material itself—glass—becomes a signifier of fragility, mirroring Joseph's vulnerable position. Considering structuralism, the biblical narrative is conveyed through a series of visual signs—each figure, gesture, and object represents a piece of the larger story. The artist transforms a simple drinking vessel into a complex semiotic device, inviting viewers to decode the layers of meaning embedded within its form.