Six “bottle Bottoms” Painted After Jacques Callot—17th–18th Centuries

An intriguing set of six 17th- and 18th-century blown-glass “bottle bottoms,” repurposed as painting supports.

These thick, irregular glass discs, recognizable by their domed shape and the mark left by the glassblower at their center, were used in the manufacture of windowpanes and could be incorporated into the center of stained-glass compositions, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain.

Here, they were painted on the reverse side—probably in the 19th century—with figures based on engravings by Jacques Callot (1592–1635). Musicians, hunters, drinkers, and folk figures come together to form a particularly lively ensemble, directly inspired by the earthy world of the Lorraine engraver.

The painting on the reverse preserves the brilliance of the design, while the bubbles, ripples, and irregularities of the blown glass lend the figures a unique depth.

The six glasses are now displayed on two modern metal stands, three per stand, specially created for this exhibition.