Black "Hyalith" glass jar with satirical gold painting, ca. 1830
Black "Hyalith" glass, gold painted and polished
(H x Ø)23,8 × 13,8 cm
Place of originNové Hrady
About the workAround 1816, the Count of Buquoy’s glassworks in southern Bohemia succeeded in producing glass that was particularly black. Previously, it had only been possible to make very dark green or red glass. Borrowing the Greek terms “hyalos” for glass and “lithos” for stone, Count Buquoy named his glass “Hyalith”. It came to be fashionable to make “stone glasses” in a wide variety of colours. The meaning of the depiction on this jar – possibly used for cigars – has not yet been deciphered: a faun rides on a fashionably dressed lady who is led on a leash by another forest spirit.
AccessionAcquisition 1999
Inventory numberGl 1999-38 a,b
