Wine glass with the arms of William IV c. 1731 - 1747

This wine glass, etched with the arms of William IV, invites a study in the semiotics of power and display. The anonymous maker has transformed clear glass into a medium for conveying status through elaborate design. Observe how the structure of the glass—its conical bowl, slender stem, and circular foot—creates a visual hierarchy. The upper portion commands attention, adorned with heraldic symbols. Note the intricate details of the coat of arms, complete with crown, lions and floral motifs, all meticulously engraved. The glass shape lends itself to a reading of elevation and importance, its transparency paradoxically emphasizing the weight of its symbolic content. Consider how this object functioned within 18th-century society. More than a mere drinking vessel, it was a statement, a tangible representation of authority and lineage. The glass is both functional and symbolic, reflecting the complex interplay between utility and representation.