Aperitif Glass c. 1920

This Aperitif Glass, crafted by an anonymous artist, invites us to consider how simple objects carry complex cultural echoes. The twisted knot on its stem, shimmering with delicate gold leaf, is reminiscent of the Hercules knot, an ancient symbol of love, commitment, and protection. This motif, tying two intertwined ropes, was worn as an amulet and adorned marriage belts, a visual pledge of enduring union. We see it echoed in countless forms across time, from Celtic knotwork to Renaissance jewelry. The knot's enduring appeal lies in its promise: to bind, to secure, to protect against the chaos of the world. Here, on an object meant for convivial gathering, it suggests that even fleeting moments of pleasure are rooted in deeper human desires for connection and stability. The Aperitif Glass, in its quiet way, captures this dance between the ephemeral and the eternal.