English: Beaker made using the ‘Zwischengoldglas’ technique, mid 18th century V&A Museum no. 1271-1872

Techniques - Double glass, with engraved gold foil

Artist/designer - Unknown

Place - Bohemia, Czech Republic

Dimensions - Height 9.0 cm

This beaker is made in the so-called ‘Zwischengoldglas’ technique, a very difficult and time-consuming process that made the products extremely expensive. The glass-makers carefully ground and polished two glass cups, so that the inner cup would fit exactly into the outer. They covered the outside of the inner cup with gold leaf, which they then engraved with a design. After decoration, the glass-maker would stick the two cups together and carefully seal them at the top to make the resultant beaker waterproof and fit for use. This piece is decorated with the Christian hero St George and the evil dragon he defeats, here depicted among scrolls and grotesques. A separate glass disc in the base is decorated with the sacred monogram 'IHS', also in engraved gold leaf, and backed with ruby lacer. The decoration indicates that the beaker originally had some religious function. ‘IHS’ is usually interpreted (in Latin) as ‘Iesus Hominum Salvator or ‘Jesus, Men’s Saviour’, but given the imagery here, may mean ‘In Hoc Signo (vinces)’, or ‘In this sign (thou shall conquer)’.