Beaker
1678â1679
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Harry G. Friedman
Accession Number
1966-2-8
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 17th-century Dutch craftsmanship with this elegant *Beaker* by Geert Jacobs vanotmarssen, created between 1678 and 1679. As a skilled Dutch metalworker, van Ootmarssen contributed to the Netherlands' Golden Age, a period of extraordinary artistic and economic flourishing when artisans produced luxurious objects for affluent households and civic pride. This beaker, likely a drinking vessel for wine or ale, showcases the precision and durability of metalwork, a medium prized for its versatility in forming functional yet decorative items that could withstand daily u...