Art Nouveau Liqueur Glass With Ruby-lined Interior And Uranium-glass Stem, Köln Ehrenfeld

Art Nouveau Liqueur Glass with Ruby Overlay Glass and Uranium Glass Stem
Rheinische Glashütten-Actien-Gesellschaft, Cologne-Ehrenfeld, circa 1900

Rare Art Nouveau liqueur glass produced by the Rheinische Glashütten-Actien-Gesellschaft, Cologne-Ehrenfeld, around 1900. This elegant example combines ruby overlay glass with a uranium glass stem, illustrating the technical and artistic achievements of one of Germany's leading art glass manufacturers of the Art Nouveau period.

The shallow bowl is made of clear glass with a deep ruby overlay (cased overlay glass), finely decorated with an acid-etched abstract floral design. Compared with the more common naturalistic flower patterns, this stylised decoration belongs to one of the rarer variants produced by the Cologne-Ehrenfeld glassworks.

The stem and foot are made of pale green uranium glass, displaying the characteristic bright fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Between bowl and stem is the distinctive spiral-ribbed disc, one of the characteristic design features of these luxury glasses.

The combination of ruby overlay glass and uranium glass creates an exceptional colour contrast while demonstrating the remarkable technical expertise achieved by the Ehrenfeld factory around 1900.

Founded in 1867, the Rheinische Glashütten-Actien-Gesellschaft became one of Germany's foremost artistic glass manufacturers. Under Oskar Rauter and later Eduard von Kralik, the factory received international recognition at the World's Fairs in Antwerp (1885), Chicago (1893) and Paris (1900). The company also collaborated with leading designers including Peter Behrens, Joseph Maria Olbrich and Koloman Moser.

Liqueur glasses of this series are considerably rarer than the corresponding wine or champagne glasses and are highly sought after by collectors of German Art Nouveau glass.

Maker: Rheinische Glashütten-Actien-Gesellschaft, Cologne-Ehrenfeld
Date: circa 1900–1905
Material: uranium glass stem and foot; clear glass with ruby overlay glass bowl
Technique: mouth-blown, acid-etched decoration with fine internal detailing
Height: 13.1 cm
Foot diameter: 5.4 cm
Bowl diameter: 5.6 cm
Condition: excellent original condition, no chips or cracks.

Comparable glasses from this series exist in several colour combinations and sizes. Minor variations in dimensions and colour intensity reflect their entirely handmade production.