Roemer

In the seventeenth century, the Roemer was one of the most sought-after types of glassware. It was not merely a common drinking vessel but could also signify wealth and social status. Its popularity is reflected in the variety of shapes and sizes and the elaborate decorations in which it was produced. The Roemer also appears repeatedly in still-life paintings of the period, as an object that was both precious and part of everyday life.

For Pieter Claesz, the Roemer was an ideal subject through which to demonstrate his mastery of glass painting. Light reflections, transparency and reflections in the glass offered him numerous opportunities to blur the boundaries between the painted world and reality.