A wide cup with ball feet
Original title: A wide cup with ball feet
kurzbeschreibung
Dated 1646, Wenceslaus Hollar's etching "Breiter Becher mit Kugelfüßen" reproduces a precious goblet. The vessel's ornamented form takes pride of place: a wide, flaring bowl, a richly decorated stem and round feet shaped like spheres.
Description
A broad cup stands alone, its shallow bowl covered with delicate ornament. The elaborate stem carries a small stylised figure in a cloak, something like a statuette, and passes below into ball-shaped feet. Light and dark are placed deliberately, so the feel of the metal's surface comes through. The ground stays white and empty, which keeps the eye fixed on the vessel.
Context
This, the only state of the etching, was made in 1646. Hollar was known for his meticulously worked prints, in which he often recorded craft objects and old pieces. At the time, printed reproductions of sumptuous vessels served to display the skill of the craftsman.
Impact
Clean linework and graded shading give the cup an almost physical presence. The figure on the stem has a peculiar, slightly unreal quality that heightens the ornamental richness. The sheet reads like a study that captures the taste of Baroque goldsmiths' work.
Technique
The print was made as an etching: the lines were worked into an etched copper plate. This allowed fine, varied strokes for the ornament and the shadows. The sheet measures 16.7 × 12 cm and is trimmed just outside the plate mark.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)