Beaker (“Ranftbecher”)

This beaker, painted in Anton Kothgasser’s workshop, is a glass typical for Biedermeier in Vienna. Thin walled beakers with enamel painting became popular presents and souvenirs of the time of the Congress of Vienna. From 1811 on, Gottlob Mohn refined enamel painting, practiced by his father Samuel in Dresden, in Vienna. Anton Kothgasser, porcelain painter at the Manufactory Vienna, competed with him by capturing motives from porcelain painting on glass: Vedutas, flowers, animals, emblems, portraits— also of princes and generals—from 1812 on appeared on glasses as well as porcelain cups which were sold as souvenirs.