This work of art is temporarily off view while the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion galleries are reinstalled.

Italy, Venice
Probably Heinrich Straub, Nuremberg (mounts)

By the late 16th century, vetro a filigrana, or filigree glass, had developed into the most important Venetian luxury glass for export to Europe’s aristocracy. Elegant vessels were blown or mold-blown in a variety of patterns made up of vertical threads, twisted nets, or a fine network of criss-crossing threads resembling lace. This pitcher, or ewer, was a treasured Venetian import to Nuremberg, Germany.  There, the goldsmith Heinrich Straub (active 1608 to 1636) replaced the original glass handle with an elaborate, chased silver-gilt version formed by a male and female figure. 

A companion piece to this ewer, nearly identically mounted, is now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  The elaborate pair would have graced the serving buffet of an elegant Northern European household.

Filagree glass, blown, tooled; silver-gilt mounts with jewels and enamel decoration, second half of the 16th century,
Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, 1960.36