Wineglass with arms of William V, Prince of Orange
Unknown Artist
ca. 1775
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 7 3/8 × 2 7/8 in. (18.7 × 7.3 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Munsey Fund, 1927
Accession Number
27.185.245
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant wineglass, crafted around 1775 in the Dutch, proudly displays the coat of arms of William V Prince of Orange, the stadtholder who led the Netherlands during a period of political tension. Standing at just over 7 inches tall, its slender form and engraved heraldry reflect the refined taste of 18th-century Dutch decorative arts, where glassware often served as a canvas for patriotism and prestige. Such pieces were likely used in formal toasts or banquets, symbolizing loyalty to the House of Orange amid rising unrest from the Patriot movement. The unknown artisan employed wheel-engr...