Wineglass 1780 - 1795

This delicate wineglass was made in the eighteenth century by David Wolff, likely somewhere in the Netherlands. The clear glass is finely engraved with two young men holding up wine glasses to each other, accompanied by a Dutch inscription. During this time, the Dutch Republic was a prominent center for trade and culture, with a wealthy merchant class that valued luxury goods and artistic craftsmanship. This prosperity allowed artists like Wolff to thrive and produce intricate works that catered to the tastes of the elite. But we also have to consider that this glass would have been produced using the system of indentured labor and slavery of the time. Drinking glasses of this kind were status symbols and had great social significance, used in toasts, celebrations, and as a display of wealth and refinement. The image of friendship on this glass, as well as its delicate nature, invites us to reflect on the ways in which social rituals can foster both inclusion and exclusion.