The Glass Blower

Book Title: Spiegel van het menselyk bedryf : vertoonende honderd verscheiden ambachten, konstig afgebeeld en met godlyke spreuken en stichtelyke verzen verryke / door Jan en Kasper Luiken

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Glass Blower

Scripture Reference:

Description: The glass blower, standing with his back to the oven, is in the process of blowing a glass ball. A second worker inspects and cuts off a blown object from the blowpipe; a third worker places wooden logs into the furnace. Bundled supplies of reed are stored on an overhead shelf. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712) was responsible for drawing this emblem and for creating the motto and poem that follow. Jan Luiken and/or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708) were responsible for its etching. The attendant scripture text is 1 Corinthians 15:53.


Motto:
A finer matter
Lies under the coarse one.

Poem:
Pleasing vessel, crystal glass,
Transparent, as if bodiless:
So shall the essence of the devout,
After it is finally ready,
Out of the furnace of this time and struggle
Appear in the eternal light.

(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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