Hanging lamp
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Glass, gilt copper
Dimensions
Height: 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Diam. of rim: 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
Italian, Venice (Murano)
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Adrienne Minassian, 1994
Accession Number
1997.282.2
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This delicate hanging lamp, crafted in 17th-century Venice's renowned Murano glass workshops, exemplifies the pinnacle of decorative arts. Standing just 5¼ inches tall with a 9¼-inch rim diameter, it combines translucent glass with ornate gilt copper accents, likely designed to suspend from a chain in a grand palazzo or church interior. Murano's glassmakers, isolated on their lagoon island since the 13th century safeguard trade secrets, produced luxury items like this for elite patrons across Europe. The medium highlights masterful techniques: blown glass formed into elegant, functional shapes, enhanced by gilding on copper for a lavish glow when lit with oil. Venetian cristallo—clear as rock crystal—revolutionized glassblowing, rivaling rock crystal in clarity while allowing vibrant colors and filigree details, though this piece's simplicity speaks to refined restraint amid Baroque opulence. A bequest to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1994, this lamp offers a glimpse into Venice's golden age of craftsmanship, where artistry met innovation to illuminate the world's wealthiest homes.