Wineglass
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Height: 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
probably British or Flemish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Frederick W. Hunter, 1913
Accession Number
13.179.86
Art Historical Context
This elegant 18th wineglass, standing at 8 inches tall, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of European glassmakers, likely from Britain or Flanders. Crafted during a golden age of decorative arts, when glass production flourished amid growing trade and technological advances, it would have graced the tables of affluent households. Its slender form and probable clear lead glass—hallmarks of the period—highlight the era's fascination with transparency and light play, turning everyday objects into symbols of sophistication. Glass as a medium in the 18th century represented both artistic innov...