Oct. 19th-27th, DDW24 | St. Catharine’s Church
For the first time, the remains of this rare and remarkably large 17th-century glass vessel will be on display.
With presence of related exhibits, we invite you to explore the stories behind these fascinating archeological findings.
Explore about glass
When and where was this glass possibly made?
What was it used for?
How to make a glass piece like this?
Why does it look greyish?
How to embed a gem on it?
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Join us with this journey into the history and technology of glassmaking.
Uncover not only what we know, also how we know it.
Witness golden age
A certain style of glass could only last popular for a short period in history.
So could an empire.
As religious and economic conflicts grew more and more intense, the resistance against Spanish rule rose in the Netherlands, followed by Eighty Years’ War.
This glass is estimated to have been made during that era.
Given its discovery site and the unusually large size, it may have served the Eindhoven Castle and its owner, the House of Orange.
Although there is no definitive evidence of Prince Willem or Prince Maurits staying at the castle, isn’t it thrilling just to imagine what they might have toasted to this ‘hensbeker’?
More into Eindhoven
Historical records reveal that a castle once stood on the edge of Eindhoven's city walls, where the current ‘Ravensdonck’ area lies. It was here that the shards of this glass vessel, along with many other archaeological artifacts, were found.
You may wonder:
What did Eindhoven Castle look like?
Why did it disappear? What happened to it?
What’s an archeological excavation really like?
How was city Eindhoven back then?
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At the exhibition you will find some well-preserved archives about Eindhoven and Ravensdonck Excavation.