17th Century Dutch Or German Roemer

Description

Heading : 17th century Dutch roemer with raspberry prunts 
Date : c1670
Origin : Germany or “Dutch” Provinces
Colour : Iron Green 
Bowl : Tulip shape
Pontil : Snapped
Glass Type : Soda
Size : 14cm tall. 7cm bowl. 5cm foot 
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks
Restoration : None
Weight : 81  grams

Additional Information:

The 17th Century was an extraordinary time of great artistic and economic development in the Netherlands. As one might expect from a 17th century country on the rise they were at war. or on the verge of it. for virtually the entire century. The second half of the Eighty Years War in which the Dutch achieved independence from Spain took up the first half of the century and extensive wars with Britain took up much of the second. Indeed at the time when this roemer was made it is entirely possible that the country in which it now resides would have been at war with its country of origin.

In our own county of Kent the Dutch attacked Chatham and Gillingham in The Raid of the Medway. The successful Dutch leaders. after sinking thirteen ships and capturing two. may well have celebrated by drinking to their success in glasses very much like this one. Mercifully the Glorious Revolution allowed for peace between ourselves and our Dutch friends and we could both get back to more pressing matters. namely harrying the French.

Made during the Dutch Golden Age this exceptional roemer embodies much of what made the Netherlands such a beacon of European culture during the 17th century. When compared to the slender stemmed and somewhat more elaborate Venetian glasses of the period this may initially appear rather less impressive than its Italian cousins. Closer study however reveals much of what allowed the Netherlands to dominate 17th Century trade. Weber’s theory of the Protestant work ethic suggests that discipline and frugality were the causes for the success for Protestant countries.

This robust glass when compared to the fragile (if beautiful) venetian glasses of the time demonstrate this difference. and the fact that one can still confidently enjoy wine out of them today is testament to this. Although I wouldn’t recommend having greasy fingers if you decide to drink from this roemer. the prunts on the stem allow for better grip. This is a further testament to the frugality of the Dutch at the time: by all means get drunk and eat well. but don’t break the glasses. A sentiment very much alive and well here at Scottish Antiques. 

This tendency towards a simpler form than the Catholic countries around Europe is also reflected in Dutch art from the time. While the humble roemer was quenching the thirst of 17th century Dutchmen the Catholic church was encouraging the spread of the Baroque movement to counter the simpler more austere tastes of the protestant movement. Early still life paintings show roemers with a pincered notched foot ring and the later paintings show feet like this one. This foot type was a later innovation involving trailing a thread of molten glass around a conical core. If you were to place your nail inside this thread and twist the glass anti clockwise you would find your finger moving up the glass.

Whether you want this glass to sit in a cabinet or if you occasionally want to engage in some 17th century inspired revelry is no business of ours but. regardless of what you want them for. we can’t recommend them enough.