During the Renaissance, Venetian glassmakers, working on the island of Murano, were celebrated across Europe for their fine and sparkling work. Called “cristallo” emulating the clarity of rock crystal, in the hands of the most skilled glassblowers the medium could be delightfully manipulated, variously stretched paper-thin flat, or playfully twisted, or blown into molds with spectacular patterns.
Credit: Gift of Samuel L.M. Barlow, 1883
17th century
Glass
15.9cm
83.6.4
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection