Bokaal met schroefdraad, met de wapens van de Zeven Verenigde Provinciën by Anonymous

c. 1725 - 1750

Bokaal met schroefdraad, met de wapens van de Zeven Verenigde Provinciën

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Anonymous

@anonymous

Location

Rijksmuseum

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Curatorial notes

This delicate drinking glass with thread, adorned with the emblems of the Seven United Provinces, stands as a testament to anonymous craftsmanship. The clear glass is shaped with precise geometry, from its flared lip to the spherical nodes punctuating the stem, all grounded by a circular base. The engraving of heraldic shields introduces a semiotic layer, where each emblem signifies a province within the Dutch Republic. The glass itself transforms into a symbol of unity and identity, reflecting the values of the Republic. Note how the thread spirals upwards, visually drawing the eye and suggesting a continuous, perhaps even ascending, narrative. The structure of the glass, therefore, is not merely functional but also rhetorical, subtly reinforcing ideas of progress and cohesion. This glass is not merely a vessel, but a carefully constructed statement of political identity.