Standing cup
Unknown Artist
1745–46
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 8 3/8 × 3 3/4 in. (21.3 × 9.5 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
German, Silesia
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Munsey Fund, 1927
Accession Number
27.185.91
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Standing Cup*, crafted in German Silesia around 1745–46, exemplifies the region's renowned glassmaking tradition during the Baroque-Rococo transition. Standing at 8 3/8 × 3 3/4 inches, this delicate glass vessel likely served as a ceremonial drinking cup, elevated on a footed base for display in affluent households. The inclusion of human figures—suggested by its tagging—hints at intricate engravings or moldings, a technique that brought narrative scenes or allegorical motifs to life on transparent surfaces, blending utility with artistry. Silesian glass from this era was prized...