Wine glass with the arms of Johan de Back c. 1750 - 1766

Curator: Let's talk about this beautiful wine glass, crafted somewhere between 1750 and 1766. What are your first thoughts looking at it? Editor: It feels like a ghost—so delicate and transparent. It has an ethereal, almost heartbreaking beauty, like holding captured light. It is too precious to ever be used! Curator: Indeed. Its delicacy is striking, especially considering it was a functional object. This glass, etched with the arms of Johan de Back, gives us insight into the world of elite consumption and decorative arts during the Baroque period. The material itself, glass, was a luxury, and the craftsmanship… Editor: …It tells a story about power, about lineage, doesn't it? Like whispering secrets from a lavish dinner party long ago. Do you think Herr de Back felt special drinking from such an elaborate object? Curator: Undoubtedly. The glass itself reflects the Baroque aesthetic—highly decorative, complex in its detail, but it's the labor behind it that intrigues me. Consider the glass-making process, the specialized skills required for etching such fine details… the artisan him or herself, their skill set, all lost to history. We understand Baroque artistry only if we can grasp how materials dictated both forms and cultural meanings. Editor: Lost histories, that's exactly what comes to mind. Who made this glass? Were they ever celebrated for it? We see the name of the person whose coat of arms is etched onto the vessel, but where is the legacy of the craftsperson that transformed molten material into this fragile jewel? Curator: Precisely. These objects occupy liminal spaces—high art vs. functional ware; anonymous artisan versus wealthy owner. But look closely. Those swirling, symmetrical patterns around the shield--they imply not only the owner's prestige but the labor invested. Each cut into the glass required skill. Editor: It also asks you to pause, doesn’t it? To really notice the craftsmanship. The twisting of the stem is utterly wonderful and reminds me of the impermanence of beauty. It's amazing it has survived all these years. Curator: Exactly! An elegant, material artifact reminding us of the social hierarchies of its time. Editor: It serves as a gentle reminder, even now. A ghost, still beautiful, telling us a silent story.