clear glass layered with cobalt glass, circular offset foot decorated with engraved acanthus, cylindrical bowl, a medallion with a delicate engraving of a sitting Gambrinus on the surface, an engraving of acanthus and hops on the rear, North Bohemia, carving probably by Franz de Paula Zach, Munich, 1850s, height 27 cm (Zí)

The offered cup is a top-quality example of North Bohemian glass production of the 1850s From the middle of the 1940s the Harrachov Glass Works produced clear glass layered with cobalt and ruby glass at Nový Svět, which was subsequently decorated by grinding in combination with engraving and frequently frosted. The bottom part was usually decorated with grinding and the surface of the cup was covered with delicate engraving. The optical effect of various thicknesses of ground down coloured glass was impressive and made the engraving very structured. The engraving was also frosted. This prevented light reflection and the viewer was able to view the portrayed motif more easily. Figural motifs were very popular - Bacchus, Gambrinus, Madonna della Sedia or chivalric images. In spite of the high quality of the carved images, it is difficult to determine their author. Glass “semi-finished products” were purchased by many glass cutters, for example A. Pfeiffer in Carlsbad, Franz de Paula Zach in Munich, Ignaz Pelikan in Mistrovice or Carl Pfohl. On the basis of comparison of the cup with other cups in public collections from the aspect of the subject and style of the engraving, we believe that Franz de Paula Zach could be the author of the carving.