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Fig. 1 - Dotted prunts on a half-liter green
glass stein dated 1893. The six prunts were tool-impressed and arranged in a
single row encircling the middle of the stein. The design originated in the 15th
century, and even with nineteenth century variations, remained a distinctive
decoration. |
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Fig. 1a - A full view of the same stein. |
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Fig. 2 - A half-liter amber glass stein
decorated with a type of blue star prunts (which appear greenish against the
amber body) and a blue applied handle. |
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Fig. 3 - A distinctive half-liter glass stein,
with clear historical design. The glass has the green color of forest glass of
northern Germany from the Middle Ages, and the Stachel Nuppen (thorn drop prunts) are applied in the 16th century fashion. |
Dotted prunts were impressed in relief, with a die which was a concave-faced
steel tool. Two different methods were used in applying the ornaments: Simply
explained, in one technique molten glass was rolled flat on a steel-surfaced
glassworking table. The decorator cut out a prunt with the tool, retained it in
the die, and stamped it on the stein. This method of "cut and stamp"
produced perfectly shaped and neatly placed prunts as shown on the stein in
figure 1. In the second method, the decorator dropped a small blob of molten
glass on a stein and pressed the die to the glass which shaped the prunt. This
method of "drop and press" produced prunts that were nicely shaped but
not necessarily round. Often a slight collar of excess glass remained along the
edge of the design.