A Dutch moulded and silver-mounted flask, second half 17th Century

Of translucent amethyst glass, the squat globular body decorated overall with 'nipt diamond waies', the tall slender neck with a single ring collar, the silver cover attached to the neck collar by a chain, 24cm high

It was not until the latter part of the 17th century that the use of carafes became common in northern Europe, many of which were mounted in silver or gilt bronze. The technique of 'nipt diamond waies' originated in Venice and was popular in the Netherlands for decorating such bottles and flasks in the 17th century. The term was first used in 1677 by George Ravenscroft who used the technique to decorate early British vessels of lead glass and this method of ornament continued in England into the first half of the 18th century. A similar amethyst glass bottle is illustrated by Franz Adrian Drier, Venezianische Gläser (1989), p.98, no.94. A smaller example in amethyst glass with 'nipt diamond waies' was in the Krug Collection sold by Sotheby's on 7 July 1981, lot 143. See also the related amethyst example moulded with ribs, lot 138. A very similar example in blue glass in the Rijksmuseum (inv. no.BK-KOG-135) is illustrated by Pieter Ritsema van Eck, Glass in the Rijksmuseum (1993), pp.188-9, no.299. Another in blue glass with an applied handle from the Overduin Collection was sold by Bonhams on 21 May 2014, lot 19.