Cordial glass c. 18th century

This cordial glass, made by an anonymous artist, presents a fascinating study in form and function. The structure is immediately striking: a slender, transparent vessel, it’s composed of a conical bowl, a stem with spiraling pink inclusions, and a circular base. The clarity of the glass contrasts with the dynamic, almost baroque, swirl of the stem, creating a visual tension. Consider the implications of this design: the transparency of the bowl invites visual inspection of its contents, while the swirling stem introduces an element of playful distortion. The glass is not merely a container but a device for engaging the senses. We can read this object through a semiotic lens. The clear glass could symbolize purity or refinement, while the pink spiral introduces a sense of festivity. Together, these elements propose a cultural code of elegant celebration. The artist destabilizes the simple function of the glass, transforming it into an aesthetic experience that engages with ideas of visual pleasure.