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Goblet

Italian
16th or 17th century
Object Place: Europe, Italy

Medium/Technique Glass
Dimensions 20.5 cm (8 1/16 in.)
Credit Line Bequest of Mrs. Arthur Croft—The Gardner Brewer Collection
Accession Number01.6408
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsGlass
Taste, smell, sight, hearing, and touch-all the senses come together in the famous glassware of Venice. The taste and smell of a liquid like red wine was enhanced by the broad bowl; the color of the wine was seen through the clear or colored glass, which was blown or molded into elegant shapes; the experience was sometimes accompanied even by the sound of the tinkling of little rings-like the blue ones on one of these goblets-as the glass was raised to the lips.

DescriptionVery thin; bell-shape bowl; lower part of stem twisted; blue handles.
Provenance1874, probably by descent from Gardner Brewer (b. 1806 - d. 1874), Boston, to his daughter, Caroline Abigail Brewer (Mrs. Arthur) Croft (d. 1898), Boston; 1901, bequest of Mrs. Arthur Croft to the MFA. (Accession Date: July 1, 1901)