Beaker
Unknown Artist
ca. 1820–30
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.)
Classification
Glass
Culture
Bohemian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Zita Spiss, in memory of her father, Julius Triger, 1990
Accession Number
1990.328.42
Art Historical Context
This elegant Bohemian glass beaker, dating to around 1820–30, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Central Europe's premier glassmaking region during the Biedermeier period. at just 5⅝ inches tall, it served as a practical yet luxurious drinking vessel, reflecting the era's blend of functionality and understated neoclassical elegance. Produced in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), a hub of glass innovation since the 17th century, such pieces were prized for their clarity, durability, and intricate surface treatments like wheel-cutting or engraving—techniques that caught the light to crea...