Glass (for drinking) (Tumbler or beaker)

Description

This tumbler or beaker has much in common with examples illustrated in Winterthur's so-called Gardiner's Island Glass Catalogue (71x206.1, Downs collection, Winterthur Library). The 1790-1825 Bohemian glass trade catalog is signed by Johannes Schiefner of Parchen in Bohemia. It once belonged to the Gardiner family of Gardiner's Island, New York, and documents some forms of imported glass which were available in Federal America. Catalog no. 82 illustrates a tumbler sharing several similar features, in terms of engraved decoration, to the glass example shown here. Unlike the glass example, however, the catalogue tumbler has groupings of narrow vertical lozenge motifs between the stars, rather than single large horizontal lozenges, near the rim. The caption for no. 82 translates as "[Beerglass], scalloped at the base and engraved garlands."