Bokaal met een gedicht van Goethe 1860

Here we have an anonymous glassmaker's rendition of a stemmed glass goblet with lid and knob, etched with a poem by Goethe. Without knowing the identity of the artist, we can still glean insight into the socio-cultural context from this vessel. Goethe's work, deeply entwined with the Sturm und Drang movement, questioned societal norms and celebrated individual emotion. This glass embodies a kind of cultural reverence, as poetry moves from the page to the everyday object. Consider the intimate act of drinking from this glass. The user engages not just with a beverage, but with the whispers of Goethe's verse. It transforms a common object into a vessel of intellectual and emotional experience. How might this blend of art, craft, and personal use have shaped the rituals and identities of those who used it? It reminds us that even the most functional objects can be imbued with layers of meaning, reflecting and shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world.