Wine glass 1683

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this elegant "Wine Glass," crafted around 1683, and currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Though the artist is unknown, the engraving on this Baroque glass piece really captures the imagination. Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to the clarity, that sheer fragility—it feels almost dangerous to admire it. The etched details are incredible; they give the impression of frost on a winter window. Curator: It’s true, isn’t it? Glass engraving of this period was highly prized, and owning pieces like this indicated a certain social standing. The imagery on the glass reflects Dutch maritime power of the period: observe the lion grappling with the ship, perhaps a bit of national pride in visual form. Editor: It strikes me as almost theatrical, like a scene from a play frozen in glass. You've got this fierce lion locked in this eternal struggle against the elements. I wonder, did they drink toasts to naval victories from it, or was it purely ornamental, kept under lock and key, like a tiny, precious performance? Curator: Most likely, both. These weren't cheap objects, but the purpose of glassware is to be used, to celebrate—or commemorate. The engraving served a propagandistic function, reinforcing Dutch strength, but also offered an aesthetic pleasure in everyday life. And you're right about that performative aspect: such preciousness creates rituals. Editor: A fascinating dance between propaganda and poetry then. To hold this glass, to feel its delicate balance, must have felt significant back then, imbuing the drink itself with extra meaning. Even now, I feel an urge to imbue it with champagne and ponder its message. Curator: An apt sentiment indeed. Ultimately, this wine glass encapsulates how art can serve both grand political narratives and intimate personal moments, blurring the lines between power, ritual, and beauty. Editor: Agreed. Gazing into this, one almost expects the lion and ship to suddenly burst into action, forever frozen, of course, just like the liquid history it holds within its delicate embrace.