Vilniaus Žemutinės pilies XV-XVI a. stikliniai dirbiniai
ENThe article is designed as an overview of table glassware dated to the 15th-16th centuries and uncovered during archaeological investigations. Its aim is to analyse their use and most typical forms. Analysis included well-preserved items known from analogues or the ones with exclusive details of ornaments. Attention is focused on goblets which represent the greater part of the uncovered glassware. The appearance of the glassware was related with the royal court, which finally settled in the representative palace of Vilnius Lower Castle. The number of glassware necessary for the royal palace was for the first time indicated in the privilege of Grand Duke of Lithuania Žygimantas Augustas granted to Martynas Paleckis in 1547. It included a permission to produce and sell glassware and a prescript to supply the court with 200 large and 200 smaller tumblers of blown glass every year. By this privilege the first local glass workshop was established. This implies that all glassware before the 16th century was, presumably, imported. Fragments of larger goblets were found in the layers of the 16th century. The majority of goblets are made of yellowish transparent glass decorated with enamel of different colours. Only thicker lines of enamel ornaments have survived. The thinner lines have withered away and can be traced only by patina marks. Based on J. Shchapova’s investigations and analogies (though the uncovered goblet fragments are small), the glassware from the terterritory of Vilnius Lower castle was imported from the Near East.A few fragments of transparent glass with violet tint, characteristic of West European workshops, were also uncovered. The fragments of goblets found in the layers of the 15th-16th century in the approaches to the Royal Palace are decorated with even or wavy glass fascia stuck to the bottom edge. They resemble the goblets referred to in West Europe as “Wilkom”. In the layers of the 16th century, about 50 fragments of cylindrical goblets without a stalk were uncovered. In Germany they are called “Keulenglas” or “Stangenglas”, in Czechia „čiše českėho typu“, „pištalove“ or „kyjovitė“, and in Poland “szklanice fletowate” or “flety”. The average diameter of their bottom is about 8 cm and the average diameter of cylinder at the foot is about 4-5 cm (the smallest 2.1 cm and the largest 6.5 cm). Smooth and ribbed glass fasciae, presumably used for decoration of goblets, were found. In the layers of this century, blue and greenish goblets, feet of a few goblets decorated with filigree thread ornament of Venetian glass (ą le facon de Venice), cut goblet walls and a fragment of a jar nose were found. The glassware provides valuable material about the setting of royal table. It is also interesting in terms of technological development. The collected information will facilitate the reconstruction of a small episode of court life in the Vilnius Lower Palace related with feasts and festivities.
