Beaker 1797

This 1797 beaker, a clear glass drinking vessel, is an example of the decorative art of Johann Joseph Mildner, a prominent German glass painter. The beaker is decorated with a coat of arms in an oval medallion, rendered in gold paint on a red background. The detail on the beaker is intricate, including an elaborate design of stylized leaves and a crown above the shield. The beaker’s decoration suggests a commission for a noble family, possibly from Mildner’s native Bohemia region. This work, a fine example of German glass painting, is now in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.