Ewer
rock crystal second half 16th century, cover, foot and mounts 19th century
Medium
Rock crystal, gold, enamel, rubies
Dimensions
Height: 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Classification
Natural Substances-Rock Crystal
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.660a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ewer, standing at 9½ inches tall, exemplifies Renaissance luxury craftsmanship from Italy's second half of the th century. Its body is carved from translucent rock crystal—a prized natural quartz valued for its clarity and suitability for intricate faceting, evoking the era's fascination with hardstone carving (glyptic art). The vessel's cover, foot, and ornate mounts, added in the 19th century by skilled goldsmiths Alfred André and Reinholdasters, are richly adorned with gold, enamel, and rubies, blending seamlessly with the original to mimic opulent Renaissance ewers used for ...