Fles met verzilverde binnenkant en het opschrift: Kennis komt uyt ondervinding before 1692

This glass bottle with silvered interior, inscribed with the motto "Knowledge comes from experience," is of unknown origin. The process of silvering the interior of glass objects was quite novel at the time, and required considerable skill. A solution of silver nitrate, an ammonia compound and reducing sugar was swilled around the inside of the glass, leaving a thin coating of reflective metal. Silver is highly malleable, so the coating would have followed every curve of the blown glass. The inscription was likely added by hand using a sharp tool, through a resist layer on the outer surface. The resulting object has an intriguing contrast between the transparency of the glass and the opacity of the silver, which alters the appearance of the bottle and highlights the textures of the glass and metal. It prompts us to think about the maker’s command of chemical and physical processes, bringing together both scientific knowledge and practical making. Approaching this object with sensitivity to its materiality and the processes involved allows us to fully appreciate its aesthetic and historical significance.