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Goblet with Masonic Emblems
Entertaining was an important way to assert status in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries—a time of increasing prosperity for the middle class. This goblet is decorated with Masonic symbols, including a pair of compasses and an equilateral triangle; it might have been used at a Masonic Lodge and attests to the importance of sharing a drink for strengthening social ties. Freemasonry, a fraternal organization, spread through continental Europe and North America during the 18th century.
The goblet is wheel engraved: a process in which a small abrasive wheel creates an incised design.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Acquired by William T. Walters, Baltimore; inherited by Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
Exhibitions
| 1982 | 3000 Years of Glass: Treasures from The Walters Art Gallery. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 4/22/1982 | Treatment | cleaned |
Geographies
United Kingdom, England (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 6 1/8 × Diam. at base: 3 1/16 in. (15.6 × 7.7 cm); Diam. at Rim: 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
47.361