Trick Glass — 1675-1750

Elaborate trick glass, colourless glass with strong manganese-purple tint, incorporating two hollow compartments shaped as horned animals above an ornate stem and a shallow drinking bowl at the top. Each of the two animal-shaped bottles has a filling spout on its back and an open mouth, facing the drinking bowl. There are two folds or dents in the side of the drinking bowl. Positioned at either side of the drinker's mouth, these help to prevent excessive spilling of the content while drinking from it. This vessel was made in four different parts, joined together by the glassmaker with molten glass 'glue-bits'. The parts are: the foot with hollow lower stem; the solid glass branch above it, with two flowers; the two joined animal flasks; and the drinking bowl. Each of these parts has a separate pontil mark.