Tazza
- Place of origin:
Venice, Italy (probably, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Blown glass, with applied and tooled decoration
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Glass, room 131, case 11, shelf 1
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This type of shallow glass on a tall stem is called a tazza. It was primarily intended as a drinking glass for red wine. However, it required practice and the utmost care to drink from such a glass without spilling, and being able to do so was probably a sign of great sophistication. Tazze (plural of tazza) were most likely used for special occasions only, which explains why, despite their obvious fragility, a disproportional high number has survived the perils of time.
Tazze could also be used for serving 'sweetmeats'. These were the different sorts of sugared and spiced fruits, conserves, biscuits and other confectionery that made up the final 'sweet' course of a banquet.
Physical description
Drinking glass with wide, shallow bowl on a high stem. The base of the bowl is decorated with trailed decoration.
Place of Origin
Venice, Italy (probably, made)
Date
1550-1600 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Blown glass, with applied and tooled decoration
Dimensions
Height: 13.5 cm, Width: 16.0 cm
Object history note
Formerly Robinson Collection
Historical context note
This type of shallow glass on a tall stem is called a tazza. It was primarily intended as a drinking glass for red wine. However, it required practice and the utmost care to drink from such a glass without spilling, and being able to do so was probably a sign of great sophistication. Tazze (plural of tazza) were most likely used for special occasions only, which explains why, despite their obvious fragility, a disproportional high number has survived the perils of time.
Tazze could also be used for serving 'sweetmeats'. These were the different sorts of sugared and spiced fruits, conserves, biscuits and other confectionery that made up the final 'sweet' course of a banquet.
Descriptive line
Tazza, probably Netherlands or Italy (Venice), , 1550-1600, 188-1879 .
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Liefkes, R., Glass, London (V&A) 1997, pp. 50-53, fig. 58.
This example is illustrated and its use discussed
Ajmar-Wollheim, Marta and Dennis, Flora (eds.). At home in Renaissance Italy. London: V&A Publications, 2006. 420 p., ill. Published to accompany the exhibition held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 5 October 2006 - 7 January 2007. ISBN 1851774882
Exhibition History
At Home in Renaissance Italy (Victoria and Albert Museum 05/10/2006-07/01/2007)
Categories
Drinking
Collection code
CER
