Wine glass c. 1675 - 1700

This delicate wine glass, its creator now unknown, invites us to consider the complex social rituals of its time. Imagine holding this vessel, its clear glass adorned with etched heraldry, perhaps in a dimly lit hall during a formal gathering. Consider the symbolism embedded within the glass’s design, each crest and flourish speaking to lineage, power, and social standing. Who were the families and individuals represented here, and what stories did their emblems tell? In a society deeply stratified by class, objects like this glass served as potent markers of identity and belonging. The act of sharing wine from such a glass becomes more than mere refreshment. It's a performance, a subtle dance of inclusion and exclusion, reinforcing the social order. The glass distills moments of both celebration and subtle negotiation. Its clear, fragile form hints at both the transparency and the precariousness of social status.