Beaker of ice glass, anonymous, c. 1550 - c. 1650
glassblowing, h 21.8cm × d 14.4cm More details
The surface of this ‘ice glass’ resembles irregularly frozen water, an effect achieved by plunging the blown glass while still white-hot into cold water in order to produce cracks. When the glass is reheated and blown further, these cracks get bigger. Although the decorative ice-glass technique was invented in Venice, it was much used in Antwerp, in combination with gilded monster heads.