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A Glass of Water
in the Style of XVI Century Spain
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for Baronial Arts & Sciences Championship, 6th Day of March 2004
A Glass It was not uncommon for glass drinking vessels to be used on the tables of the Spanish nobility during the 16th Century. An example illustrating this is seen in the writings of Baltasar Porreno, "an avid collector of Royal tittle-tattle" (The Princely Courts of Europe, Page 57) who describes an incident where a servant of the King refuses to fill a Count’s glass during a Twelfth Night feast (ibid, Page 57). This particular glass was chosen for it similarity to the 16th Century glass wear exported by the artisans of Venice to the nobility of Europe. The similarities include (but are not limited to):
The Spaniards were very familiar with Venetian glass, later using it as inspiration for their own glass manufacturing by combining design features with the local Hispano-Moresque traditions (Hermitage Museum Website). Stemmed glass wear appears to have been held in higher regard than the ubiquitous beaker, based on its use by important figures in period art (The Italian Renaissance Interior, Page 254). It is also not unusual for the stemmed glasses in art to be depicted as undecorated, plain glass (Ibid, Page 254). As such, it is appropriate to use plain, stemmed glasses for the serving of water to the nobility.
Of Water "And because in Spain there are many good wines and good water and there is little need of beer and it is not customary, I will not enlarge on this material.... It remains to speak of water, because many gentlemen and lords drink it, so I will speak of its selection and benefits." (Banquete de Nobles Caballeros by Luis Lobera de Avila. (A contemporary health manual quoted in Stefan's Florilegium)) Lobera de Avila (Court Physician to Carlos V) was of the opinion that that water was a particularly good choice of beverage for people suffering from a choleric temperament, young men (under the age of twenty-four) and ladies. It must, of course, be consumed in moderation. There was also much ceremony surrounding the serving of water (The Princely Courts of Europe, Page 46), and any water served to the Prince had to be of the finest quality available. It was so important the water was kept safe from contamination that it was kept under lock and key (The Princely Courts of Europe, Page 46).
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