A rock crystal vase is a vase made of rock crystal, a type of hardstone carving.
Some such vases were rare expensive items, decorated with gold and jewels, used by royalty in Europe.
A rock crystal vase that probably originated in the seventh century was given to William IX of Aquitaine (the Troubadour) by a Muslim ally. When Eleanor of Aquitaine, William IX's granddaughter, married King Louis VII of France in 1137, she gave him the rock crystal vase as a wedding present. The inscription on it says he, in turn, gave it to the Abbey of St.-Denis. It is now in the Louvre in Paris and is the only artifact of Eleanor's known to exist today.
Another was a crystal and gold posset set the Spanish Ambassador gave Mary I of England and Philip II of Spain as a betrothal gift. It was made by Benvenuto Cellini and the whole set is now on display at Hatfield House (England).
Famous quotes containing the words rock, crystal and/or vase:
“All the junk that goes with being human
Drops away, hard rock wavers
Even the heavy present seems to fail
This bubble of a heart.”
—Gary Snyder (b. 1930)
“Opinionated writing is always the most difficult ... simply because it involves retaining in the cold morning-after crystal of the printed word the burning flow of molten feeling.”
—Gavin Lyall (b. 1932)
“Forgotten and stinking they stick in the can.
And the vase breath’s better and all, and all.
And so for the end of our life to a man,
Just over, just over and all.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)