Mug

Art Historical Context

This delicate glass mug, crafted by Johann Joseph Mildner 1791, hails from the renowned Gutenbr glassworks in Austria. Measuring a modest 3 5/16 × 3 1/8 inches, it exemplifies the refined artistry of late 18th European decorative glass, blending functionality with ornamental elegance. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it reflects the era's fascination with finely wrought household objects that doubled as status symbols. Gutenbrunn was a hub of Austrian glass production during the Habsburg monarchy, celebrated for its skilled engrav...