Wineglass

Unknown Artist

17th century

Wineglass by Unknown Artist

Medium

Glass

Dimensions

Height: 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)

Classification

Glass

Culture

Italian, Venice (Murano)

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891

Accession Number

91.1.1470

Art Historical Context

This elegant 17th-century wineglass hails from Murano, the historic island off Venice renowned as Europe's glassmaking capital since the 13th century. Standing at 7½ inches tall, this delicate piece exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Italian glassblowers, who were granted a state monopoly to protect their innovative techniques from rivals. Crafted from fine glass, it would have been used in affluent Venetian households or for trade across Europe, blending functionality with luxury. Murano artisans mastered blown glass methods during this Baroque era, producing crystal-clear *cristallo...

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