Covered beaker

The bunch of flowers may be an expression of “Kindliche Dankbarkeit” (“Childlike Gratitude”), according to the inscription on the Glass; a gift from the boy depicted in silhouette on the opposite side. It is also conceivable that the boy’s name is composed of the initial letters of the flowers. Two years before this beaker was painted, the porcelain painter Samuel Mohn had completed his experiments with enamel painting on Glass to such an extent that he was able to send Queen Luise of Prussia a “first attempt.” In contrast to earlier enameled Glass, the novel colours were translucent and considerably more mellow. They made intricate and multicoloured depictions possible that were very closely related to contemporary porcelain painting, but created a particularly atmospheric effect on transparent Glass. In 1807 Mohn established a workshop in Leipzig, in 1812 a ‘fabrique’ in Dresden and employed several painters, including his son Gottlob Samuel Mohn (1789–1825). (Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk)