Kelkglas met het wapen van Holland c. 1675 - 1700

This glass goblet, made by an anonymous artist, presents a study in transparency and form. The delicate, colorless glass is structured with an engraved coat-of-arms of Holland. The goblet's shape is defined by clear, geometric volumes: a flared bowl, a bulbous stem, and a wide, flat base. The engraving, visible yet subtle, introduces a layer of symbolic complexity. Coats-of-arms, as semiotic devices, function as signs of identity, history, and power. However, here, its transparency destabilizes the traditional notions of display and authority. The goblet's lack of color and the faintness of the engraving challenge fixed meanings and engage with new ways of thinking about representation. Consider the glass itself—a material both solid and permeable, capable of containing yet offering no barrier to sight. This duality is crucial. The goblet invites us to consider how objects communicate ideas through their physical properties and embedded cultural codes. The interplay between form and symbol offers a commentary on shifting values, suggesting an openness to interpretation.