Kelkglas met een vlinder before 1863

This delicate wine glass, now in the Rijksmuseum, was made anonymously, and we don’t know exactly when. But we can still learn a lot from its material. It’s made of clear glass, blown and then engraved with a butterfly and other images. Glassblowing itself is a sophisticated process; it’s all about controlling heat and air pressure, coaxing molten silica into a desired form. And engraving requires patience, using small abrasive wheels to cut into the surface. Look closely and you’ll see the glass isn’t perfectly uniform. These subtle variations remind us that this isn’t a mass-produced object, but one made by hand. The decoration, though refined, also speaks to a world of craftsmanship, where skill and artistry were highly valued. The form and decoration elevates the everyday act of drinking into something special. Considering the materials and making of this glass helps us appreciate the artistry embedded in its form and decoration, inviting us to reconsider the boundary between the useful and the beautiful.