Beaker thumbnail 1
Beaker thumbnail 2

Beaker

1425-1525 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The so called 'Krautstrunk' [Cabbage stalk], is a glass beaker with applied foot and a decoration consisting of prunts. These prunts have been applied during the blowing process, as small blobs of hot glass, which the glassmaker pulled out with the aid of a pair of pincers, to form a regular pattern of pointed protrusions. These prunts have an obvious decorative purpose, but they also provided a good grip, when the glass was handled with greasy hands during dinner.
The krautstrunk was one of the most popular types of drinking glasses in central Europe, during the fifteenth and the first half of the sixteenth century.
This type of glass always has a distinctive green colour, which is caused by natural impurities of iron-oxide in the raw materials. This type of green glass was made across central Europe in itinerant workshops located in the woods. The trees provided the wood to stoke the glass furnaces, while plant ash was used as one of the key ingredients of the glass. Once a substantial area of the forest was cleared of its trees and undergrowth, the whole glasshouse would move to a new location.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Clear green glass with applied foot and prunts
Brief description
Beaker (Krautstrunk), Germany, Rhineland, 1425-1525
Physical description
Glass beaker with an applied foot and prunts.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.5cm
  • Diameter: 7.3cm
  • Height: 8.5cm
  • Diameter: 7.3cm
  • Weight: 0.1kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Styles
Gallery label
Krautstrunk means 'cabbage stalk', a form which was the forerunner of the Berkemeyer and Roemer.
Credit line
Wilfred Buckley Collection
Object history
Wilfred Buckley Collecion, bequethed to the Museum in 1936. Bought by Buckley at Keezer, Amsterdam on 20th januari 1927 for £ 35.-
Historical context
The so called 'Krautstrunk' [Cabbage stalk], is a glass beaker with applied foot and a decoration consisting of prunts. These prunts have been applied during the blowing process, as small blobs of hot glass, which the glassmaker pulled out with the aid of a pair of pincers, to form a regular pattern of pointed protrusions. These prunts have an obvious decorative purpose, but they also provided a good grip, when the glass was handled with greasy hands during dinner.
The krautstrunk was one of the most popular types of drinking glasses in central Europe, during the fifteenth and the first half of the sixteenth century.
This type of glass always has a distinctive green colour, which is caused by natural impurities of iron-oxide in the raw materials. This type of green glass was made across central Europe in itinerant workshops located in the woods. The trees provided the wood to stoke the glass furnaces, while plant ash was used as one of the key ingredients of the glass. Once a substantial area of the forest was cleared of its trees and undergrowth, the whole glasshouse would move to a new location.
Summary
The so called 'Krautstrunk' [Cabbage stalk], is a glass beaker with applied foot and a decoration consisting of prunts. These prunts have been applied during the blowing process, as small blobs of hot glass, which the glassmaker pulled out with the aid of a pair of pincers, to form a regular pattern of pointed protrusions. These prunts have an obvious decorative purpose, but they also provided a good grip, when the glass was handled with greasy hands during dinner.
The krautstrunk was one of the most popular types of drinking glasses in central Europe, during the fifteenth and the first half of the sixteenth century.
This type of glass always has a distinctive green colour, which is caused by natural impurities of iron-oxide in the raw materials. This type of green glass was made across central Europe in itinerant workshops located in the woods. The trees provided the wood to stoke the glass furnaces, while plant ash was used as one of the key ingredients of the glass. Once a substantial area of the forest was cleared of its trees and undergrowth, the whole glasshouse would move to a new location.
Bibliographic reference
Cf. Basel catalogue
Other number
8688 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
C.281-1936

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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