Beaker (Humpen) with the Ages of Man
c. 1600
Medium
Colorless glass and enamel
Dimensions
H.: 31.1 cm (12 1/4 in.)
Classification
glass
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
36112
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Visitors to Germany during the 17th century often commented on the amount of drinking that characterized entertainment and hospitality there, exemplified by the outsize drinking glasses that Germans favored. Honored guests were greeted with Willkommen: sizable vessels whose entire contents visitors were expected to down. The most common form of Wilkommen were Humpen: tall, cylindrical beakers often ornamented with narrative or symbolic motifs. Enameled glass, decorated by painting and firing co...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...