Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Bottle
(Baroque Europe )
This red glass has the characteristic “raspberry” or slightly purplish appearance characteristic of so-called “gold ruby glass.” To make gold ruby glass, very small amounts of dissolved gold are added to molten glass, and then the glass is formed while hot. After the glass cools, it is reheated, allowing the gold to gather and form microscopic particles, which scatter light to make transparent “gold ruby” glass.
During the 1600s, vessels made of carved hardstone, such as rock crystal, were very desirable in Germany. The shape of this bottle with faceted sides is a response to that taste. It combines the aesthetics of cut stone and the rich color of rubies, which were thought to be beneficial to one’s health.
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 Henry Walters, Baltimore [1]; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
[1] Found in the contents of the residence at #5 West Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore
Exhibitions
| 1982 | 3000 Years of Glass: Treasures from The Walters Art Gallery. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 11/9/1979 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 12/11/2017 | Examination | Treated for exhibition |
| 12/11/2017 | Examination | The silver mounts were tarnished as an old coating had failed. The coating was removed and replaced with Agateen 27 and thinner applied by brush. |
| 12/13/2017 | Treatment | Cleaned for exhibition |
| 12/13/2017 | Treatment | The silver mounts were cleaned to remove an old deteriorated acrylic coating and tarnish. The silver was polished using precipated chalk. After degreasing, the silver was recoated using Agateen Lacquer 27. Activated charcoal and/or Pacific Silvercloth will be included in storage and display configurations. |
Geographies
Germany (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 8 1/2 × W: 4 × D: 7/8 in. (21.6 × 10.2 × 9.8 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry 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.
47.374