Kelkglas met een portret van Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff en een gezicht op Leiden c. 1725 - 1750

Curator: Here we have a beautiful "Kelkglas met een portret van Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff en een gezicht op Leiden," a stemmed glass created sometime between 1725 and 1750 by an anonymous artist. What do you think, straight away? Editor: Well, my first thought? Toasts and candlelight. There’s a ghostly elegance to it, a sense of history layered upon delicate glass. You can almost hear the clinking. Curator: Precisely! This object illustrates the interesting intersection of decorative art and civic identity in the Dutch Golden Age. The intaglio engraving prominently displays Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff, a mayor of Leiden, along with a panoramic view of the city itself. It serves, then, as a functional piece—a drinking glass—and a statement of local pride and remembrance. Editor: I can't help but imagine the steady hand that must have meticulously etched those tiny details. And the fact that someone decided that THIS was the medium to depict him speaks volumes about the legacy and that era, don't you think? Did they only pull it out for special occasions? It feels commemorative somehow. Curator: That’s an excellent point. Items like these were often commissioned to honor prominent citizens and commemorate important events. It shows that the political leaders could be more approachable, that they drink the same wine as us! Though only wealthy could own it of course. Engraved glass like this served as potent symbols of status, achievement, and belonging. Editor: Almost like a Renaissance version of a bobblehead. Okay, a VERY fancy, beautiful, version. Knowing its intention does bring more emotion, a connection, for me now! That Baroque touch definitely lends grandeur, making even the act of taking a sip feel rather theatrical. Curator: It is indeed. These objects offered patrons a way to shape how they were perceived both contemporaneously and by future generations. The choice of glass, a seemingly fragile material, could perhaps be interpreted as a commentary on the ephemeral nature of life and civic duty, while the enduring image captured within signifies their indelible mark on society. Editor: A toast, then, to the delicate dance between remembrance and fleeting moments. What do you say? Curator: A most fitting conclusion! It encourages us to ponder the intersection of daily life and lasting legacy, indeed.