Gold-ruby glass; mold-blown, tooled, struck, applied, gilded, enameled, cut, polished. (a) Narrow form of amber colored glass, blown into an optical mold, with long cylindrical neck and short biconical vessel bottom, the upper 2/3 of the vessel struck at the gloryhole to gradually changing color toward the rim to a ruby red; the rim, decorated with an applied amber colored band, is tooled into an undulating ruffle. The C-shaped pair of handles is attached to the widest part of the belly. The foot consists of a hollow blown knop and a flared base with integrated vertical footring. Heavy gilding is applied to the edge and folds of the rim ruffle, both handles, the widest part of the stem knop, and the vertical edge of the foot. On the front the vessel is prominently decorated with a bearded German landsknecht (foot soldier), standing frontally, his head turning left. He wears a wide-brimmed hat with lavish white and green plumes; his armor consists of a cuirass with tassets to the knees, which are covered by pointed knee cops. The shoulders and arms are protected by pauldrons and cannons, the hands with matching gauntlets. He is dressed with a red undergarment, yellow stirrups and red shoes. In his right hand he clutches a short sword, his left hand supports a halberd. The remaining surface of the vessel is densely decorated with gilded grapevines, the leaves accentuated in pale blue, yellow, and dark green enamel with white highlights. The grapes in high relief consist of applied pyropes of green, yellow, blue, and red glass, accentuated with gold highlights. Interspersed between the vine scrolls are large flying insects which are carefully executed in colored enamel. The reverse is decorated with a songbird ready to take off from a vine, its spread wings exposing cobalt blue feathers. (b) The matching base is of cylindrical form... For complete description see Notepad: Current Full Description 1996-08-15