A rare and interesting Bohemian engraved part-amber stained and 'silver' lined goblet and cover the glass probably Meistersdorf or Steinschönau, retailed by Varnish and Co., London, circa 1850

the globular form cut with a large large octagonal panel and engraved with a Turk standing beside his mount, the reserve cut with panels of hobnail diamonds and a lens, above an octagonal stem and foot with scalloped edge, the openwork domed cover in the form of a crown, the sides cut with cross-cut diamonds, ball and cross finial, the interior with mercurial lining

The Wallace Collection, London, 'From Palace to Parlour', 21st August-26th October 2003, no.212

Exhibition catalogue, 'From Palace to Parlour', The Glass Circle, p.89

A very similar example, dated 1839, was sold by Fischer Auktions, Heilbronn, 22nd October 1994, lot 1129.

When this example was exhibited in 2003, it was suggested that the glass may have been made by James Powell and Sons, Whitefriars Glasshouse in London and engraved by a Bohemian artist working in London. However, as the glass appears not to contain lead-oxide it is therefore more likely to have been imported from Bohemia.

The patent for making silvered glass was taken out by Edward Varnish on 19th August 1849 but was discontinued in 1851 when the handling of raw mercury became illegal.