Getty Museum

Footed Beaker

Date

1500–1550

Medium

Free-blown pale yellow-green glass with applied decoration

Culture

German

Department

Decorative Arts

Institution

Getty Museum

This popular form of drinking glass is made from *Waldglas*, or forest glass, so called because the glasshouse where it was made was situated in the woodlands that provided the fuel. The characteristic green color was caused by iron impurities in the local sand, one of the main ingredients in glass. Because of the popularity and aesthetic appeal of forest glass, German glassmakers continued to make it even after they were capable of producing colorless glass. In 1562 one observer wrote, "Since, however, glass is of nature white and shining, people in these parts have commonly for wine made green glass in which a measure of fine shining wine looks fair and pleasing, and which gives the wine a fine color."

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