Water glass c. 1830

Here are five water glasses whose maker and date are anonymous. What is interesting is the diamond pattern and its resemblance to harlequin costumes. The harlequin, emerging from the Italian commedia dell'arte, is known for his checkered suit, a symbol of his mixed nature—part trickster, part buffoon, yet always resourceful. Looking at these glasses, we may ask, what are these facets reflecting? Perhaps the fractured, multifaceted nature of reality itself. This fragmentation, like the harlequin’s suit, suggests a world seen through many lenses, each offering a different perspective. Consider also how light pierces through these diamond cuts, refracting into a spectrum of colors. It calls to mind the alchemists of old, those who sought to transform base metals into gold, mirroring a deeper quest for enlightenment. These glasses, then, become more than mere objects; they become vessels of transformation. Water, the very element they hold, is itself a symbol of purity and change, endlessly shifting, adapting, and reflecting the world around it.