Twee gedecoreerde drinkglazen c. 1865 - 1900

Curator: Ah, yes, let’s turn our attention to "Twee gedecoreerde drinkglazen," or "Two Decorated Drinking Glasses," dating from around 1865 to 1900. These objects, crafted from glass, really spark the imagination. Editor: Spark is a good word. They feel haunted somehow, spectral almost. The etching, visible even in this black and white photograph, has an otherworldly elegance. Do you feel that sense of delicate impermanence, like you could shatter their story with a clumsy gesture? Curator: That delicate quality is something the artisans of the time clearly aimed for. Engraved glass was very popular then, particularly for commemorative items or displays of wealth. The symbolism is definitely worth delving into. What figures do you see? Editor: Coats of arms, lions maybe? It gives off a serious, maybe even a regal vibe. Almost a power play of, like, "look what I can afford to drink out of!" I find that interesting, set against the fragility of the material itself. It’s kind of…fragile masculinity? Curator: That's an interesting reading! Arms, crests, royal attributes: such icons signaled heritage, aspiration, or belonging within specific elite social circles. This form of display could imply access, acceptance. Of course, one doesn’t have to belong to embody such markers; their adoption may simply reflect an individual desire to identify with a privileged collective identity, real or aspirational. Editor: True, it makes me think about collecting—acquiring not just an object but also an idea of oneself. And glass is so good for this, transforming light, space, desire itself into pure display. Even now, you could drink or... something out of them. It makes one think of relics or keepsakes more than everyday drinkware. Curator: I think both readings could function as the primary purpose of such artwork, simultaneously serving a more immediate quotidian function, while being an enduring cultural or even social declaration. In glass, that statement takes a lovely, often fragile, form. Editor: Exactly. Thinking about glass makes me wonder, what other stories are trapped inside these silent shapes? What will the symbolism evolve into over time? Fascinating.