Goblet and Cover thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 3

Goblet and Cover

ca. 1730-45 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The gilded decoration of this glass is known as Zwischengoldglas [gold-sandwich glass] which was very difficult and time consuming to make and therefore extremely expensive. The glass makers carefully ground and polished two glass cups, so that the inner cup would fit exactly into the outer. They covered the outside of the inner cup with gold leaf, which they then engraved using a metal point with a design. The inner cup was gilded on the outside then painted over with marbling. After decoration, the glass maker would carefully fit the two cups together and seal them at the top to make them waterproof and fit for use. This technique was probably first used in Dresden, but was soon taken up in Bohemian where most surviving glasses have been made. The most popular decoration were the type of hunting scenes we can see on this covered goblet.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Goblet
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Double glass with 'gold-sandwich' [Zwischengold] decoration of engraved gold foil, cut
Brief description
Goblet and cover, double-walled colourless glass with engraved gold foil hunting scenes, Bohemia, ca. 1730-45
Physical description
Double colourless glass goblet, a hunting-scene with trees and horsemen in engaved gold foil between the glass layers. Cut facets on the bowl, foot and stem and on the lid and finial.
Dimensions
  • Height: 235mm
  • Diameter: 95mm
Styles
Gallery label
Goblet and cover , double glass with engraved gold foil Bohemia, about 1730-45 (355 &A-1876)(18/06/2009)
Object history
Purchased for the Museum by Edward Poynter, Director of Art in the Department of Science and Art, from the Amsterdam antique dealer J. Boas Berg.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The gilded decoration of this glass is known as Zwischengoldglas [gold-sandwich glass] which was very difficult and time consuming to make and therefore extremely expensive. The glass makers carefully ground and polished two glass cups, so that the inner cup would fit exactly into the outer. They covered the outside of the inner cup with gold leaf, which they then engraved using a metal point with a design. The inner cup was gilded on the outside then painted over with marbling. After decoration, the glass maker would carefully fit the two cups together and seal them at the top to make them waterproof and fit for use. This technique was probably first used in Dresden, but was soon taken up in Bohemian where most surviving glasses have been made. The most popular decoration were the type of hunting scenes we can see on this covered goblet.
Other number
8941 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
355&A-1876

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Record createdMarch 2, 2000
Record URL
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