Wineglass
Unknown Artist
17th century
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...