Cordial glasses (3) 18th century

These cordial glasses, standing four inches tall, were crafted by Henry William Stiegel, though the precise date remains unknown. The delicate forms consist of a cup atop a slender stem, finalized with a rounded foot. The interplay between transparency and form creates an intriguing visual rhythm. The cup, with its subtle faceting, refracts light in a way that complicates our perception of depth, subtly destabilizing the clear boundaries between inside and outside. The stem, punctuated by a spherical bulge, acts as a visual hinge, connecting the cup to the base while introducing a moment of sculptural density. Consider how Stiegel manipulates the material properties of glass to create a sense of lightness. The transparency isn't merely a neutral quality; it serves to dissolve the object's mass, inviting a dialogue between the object and its surrounding space. These aren't just vessels, they are studies in perception, objects that ask us to reconsider the relationship between form and void.