Description
Heading : 17th century Dutch roemer with raspberry prunts
Date : 1660 to 1680 according to Henkes methodology
Origin : Germany or “Dutch” Provinces
Colour : Iron Green
Bowl : Tulip shape
Pontil : Snapped
Glass Type : Soda
Size : 11.8cm tall. 5.9cm bowl. 5.5cm foot
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks
Restoration : None
Weight :70 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.
Roemen in old Dutch translates as “celebrate” or “boast”. Roemers were made in Germany to supply the Dutch market. but this shape is attributed to local rather than imported producers. The foot was produced by trailing a thread of molten glass around a conical core. Unlike later examples this is thus ribbed on both external and internal surfaces. You will find this very shape of glass in many still life paintings by Dutch masters. The prunts were applied to facilitate a better grip when eating and drinking with greasy fingers.
Archeological evidence shows that these were produced in Amsterdam. Antwerp. Bruges. Delft and Duisberg. We are unable to determine any specific features that may result in better attribution. This may be possible however with chemical analysis see Journal of Glass Studies Volume 40 1998
References :
Glass Source Book By Jo Marshall – Page 65.
An Illustrated Dictionary of Glass By Harold Newman – Page 264.
The History of Glass By Dan Klein and Ward Lloyd – Page 137.
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