A rare and early baluster goblet, perhaps Liège, late 17th century
In soda glass, the generous round funnel bowl heavily moulded with 'nipt diamond waies' at the base, the unusual multi-knopped stem moulded with fine flutes or ribs, with an upper hollow shoulder knop set between double collars above a wide cushion knop and hollow baluster also set on double collars, over a short plain section and conical foot nearly folded at the rim, 25.1cm high
Footnotes:
Provenance
Private British Collection

The technique of 'nipt diamond waies' originated in Venice and was popular in northern Europe, particularly the Netherlands, in the 17th century. The term was first used in 1677 by George Ravenscroft who used the technique to decorate early English vessels of lead glass. The ribbed stem formation is most unusual and there do not appear to be any parallels recorded in the literature. A late 17th century table bell in the form of a double wine glass with 'nipt diamond waies decoration, attributed to Liège and now in the Grand Curtius Museum, is illustrated by Joseph Philippe, Glass History and Art (1982), p.88, fig.125 and may be of related manufacture. For a late 17th century English armorial baluster goblet of comparable form but in lead glass, perhaps a product of the Savoy Glasshouse at the end of the Hawley Bishopp period, see that sold by Bonhams on 21 November 2014, lot 81.