Footed Bowl
last quarter 15th century - early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Wide bowls on a high foot were used in Italy in the Renaissance period to serve and display fresh fruit. Filled with cold water such 'rinfrascatoi' [cooling vessels] kept the fruit fresh and cool. This glass example was made in Venice by the famous glass-blowers on the island of Murano. The decoration in gold leaf and painted enamels was applied after the bowl had been shaped and gradually cooled. After decorating, the bowl went back into the mouth of the furnace, where the enamels would melt and fuse with the glass surface. The enamels would fuse at such a high temperature, that the glass became melleable again and the object would be given its final shape at this stage too. It is possible to see from the dots below the rim of the bowl, that they have stretched during firing, where the glass has expanded beyond its original (pre-firing) shape. Once fired, the enamels cannot be rubbed off the surface.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Glass, blown in a dip-mould, enamelled and gilt |
| Brief description | Footed bowl, Italy (Venice), 1450-1550, 5492-1859 |
| Physical description | Glass bowl on a hollow foot. The foot and the base of the bowl are ribbed. The bowl is decorated with a dot-and-scale pattern in leafgold and enamel. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Formerly in the Soulages Collection Historical significance: Finely decorated glass from Murano was a luxury product, much more expensive than glass made for daily use at other local Italian glass workshops. Leading families throughout Italy and also beyond, ordered their finest glass from Venice. In household inventories of the time, such glass is sometimes described as 'gilt' or 'worked' and it is often stated to be from Murano or Venice. |
| Historical context | Wide bowls on a high foot were used in Italy in the Renaissance period to serve and display fresh fruit. Filled with cold water such 'rinfrascatoi' [cooling vessels] kept the fruit fresh and cool during banquets. |
| Production | For similar examples see: Tait, 'Golden Age of Venetian Glass' cat No.4. Kesner Museum, No.1, p.46, pl.2 and the Catalogue of 'Trois Millenaires d'art Verrier', Leige 1958, p.123, No.254 |
| Summary | Wide bowls on a high foot were used in Italy in the Renaissance period to serve and display fresh fruit. Filled with cold water such 'rinfrascatoi' [cooling vessels] kept the fruit fresh and cool. This glass example was made in Venice by the famous glass-blowers on the island of Murano. The decoration in gold leaf and painted enamels was applied after the bowl had been shaped and gradually cooled. After decorating, the bowl went back into the mouth of the furnace, where the enamels would melt and fuse with the glass surface. The enamels would fuse at such a high temperature, that the glass became melleable again and the object would be given its final shape at this stage too. It is possible to see from the dots below the rim of the bowl, that they have stretched during firing, where the glass has expanded beyond its original (pre-firing) shape. Once fired, the enamels cannot be rubbed off the surface. |
| Other number | 2596 - Glass gallery number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 5492-1859 |
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| Record created | December 13, 1997 |
| Record URL |
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