Wineglass 1760 - 1770

This 18th-century wine glass, crafted by David Wolff, presents a delicate engraving of a lion, a cupid with flowers, and the inscription 'Het Bataafsch Gemenebest.' The lion, a symbol of strength and courage since antiquity, here possibly represents the Dutch Republic. The cupid, a classical motif linked to love and desire, offers flowers, perhaps alluding to fertility. The lion, throughout history, appears in myriad forms—from the protector of thrones in ancient Near Eastern art to heraldic symbols of European royalty. The infantile figure can be linked to the Christian tradition, where angels and cherubic figures populate devotional images. These symbols, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, resurface and transform across eras, reflecting evolving cultural values and psychological desires. Their emotional power engages us on a subconscious level, creating a complex dialogue between past and present.