Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Glass, Room 131

Tankard

1720-1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This tankard is made of opaque white glass in imitation of Chinese porcelain.

In the 18th century small workshops, especially in Germany and Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), specialised in decorating glass and porcelain blanks. They used soft enamel colours and operated in their own homes. Once painted, the wares were taken to a glass factory or larger central workshop, where the colours would be fired onto the surface in special kilns. The most popular enamel colours were black and red, based on lead oxide and iron oxide respectively.

The painters used contemporary prints as source of inspiration for their work. The elaborate ornament on this beer tankard has the C- and S-shaped scrolls typical of the Rococo style.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Opaque white glass, enamelled and gilt, and mounted in silver-gilt
Brief description
Tankard, Opaque white glass, enamelled and gilt, and mounted in silver-gilt, Germany, 1720-30
Physical description
Painted by an otherwise unrecorded Hausmaler (enameller of glass and ceramics working independently of the manufacturing works). Inscribed "Mit [?] Sterben Heis... [illegible]. The mounts are probably provincial work.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.7cm
  • Maximum width: 13.0cm
conversion sizes only
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed 'Mit [?] Sterben Heis... [illegible] (Decoration)
Gallery label
Painted by an otherwise unrecorded Hausmaler (enameller of glass and ceramics working independently of the manufacturing works). The mounts are probably provincial work.
Object history
Bought from the Bernal Collection.
Production
Painted by an otherwise unrecorded Hausmaler (enameller of glass and ceramics working independently of the manufacturing works)
Summary
This tankard is made of opaque white glass in imitation of Chinese porcelain.

In the 18th century small workshops, especially in Germany and Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), specialised in decorating glass and porcelain blanks. They used soft enamel colours and operated in their own homes. Once painted, the wares were taken to a glass factory or larger central workshop, where the colours would be fired onto the surface in special kilns. The most popular enamel colours were black and red, based on lead oxide and iron oxide respectively.

The painters used contemporary prints as source of inspiration for their work. The elaborate ornament on this beer tankard has the C- and S-shaped scrolls typical of the Rococo style.
Other number
8916 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
1898-1855

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest