Kuttrolfen are everywhere
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There are a lot of interesting artworks in Getty’s galleries: selfies from the 1840s, chandeliers with fishbowls inside, and drug jars that are works of art.
But in the Getty Center’s North Pavilion, we have an example of a unique and noisy work of art that was invented in the 4th century CE, trending in the middle ages, and useful to Star Trek’s Chief Engineer when he needed to outwit a band of hostile aliens in 2327.
When? Why? First let’s head back to 2024 where we’ve been answering your Frequently Asked Art Questions about the art in Getty’s collection. Today, we’re discussing something called a "kuttrolf."
It's a wine decanter, first invented in Rome in the 4th century CE. This example was made around the 17th century when kuttrolfen (the plural of kuttrolf) were trending amongst the wealthy.
Filigrana Bottle (Kuttrolf), late 16th or early 17th century, Italian. Free- and mold-blown colorless (slightly gray) glass with lattimo canes, 9 3/8 in. Getty Museum, 84.DK.661
It was a time when Kuttrolfen and Venetian glass trended together. Kuttrolfen were ornate and difficult to make and thus won the admiration of a wealthy international clientele looking for unique examples of Venetian glass. And they’re still popular with collectors today.
Kuttrolfen come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can have one or many necks in a variety of configurations.
Kuttrolf, 6 CE, Landesmuseum Württemberg. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Latticino Bottle, 16th–17th century, probably German. Glass, latticino, 8 3/16 × 3 5/16 in. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953, 53.225.103
Flask (Kuttrolf), 15th Century, German. Green glass, 4 3/4 in. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchased from the J. H. Wade Fund 1991.12
Kuttrolfen are used as wine decanters. But when you're letting wine breathe, a long and thin neck, or many long and thin necks aren't optimal. A thin neck (necks) also make it more difficult to get the wine out. But decanting isn’t a kulltrof’s only feature.
A kuttrolf’s thin neck might not be optimized for pouring wine. But it is great for making noise. As liquid trickles out of the thin neck, air gets trapped in their wide bodies until it gurgles its way out.
Together, the trapped air and trickling liquid make a gurgling noise as they pass through the thin neck(s). In some places, they’re colloquially known as “glug-glugs” or “kluk-kluks” because of that feature.
The Last Supper, 1505-1510, Jerg Ratgeb. Oil on panel, 38.7 x 36 in. Museum Boijmans
Judging by this 16th-century painting, kuttrolfen were great entertainment at a party. In this depiction of The Last Supper, there’s a lot going on. Judas is receiving host from Jesus, another disciple is aggressively blowing his nose onto the floor, and on the top left, a yet another disciple has a kuttrolf turned all the way up, trying to get some wine out. You can almost hear the “glug glug” as the liquid trickles out.
You can learn even more about kuttrolfen in the video below:
Kuttrolfen’s unique shape made it a prime candidate for one of the first sci-fi franchises as they set the standard for depicting what the future looks like.
After Scotty used the Saurian brandy in this kuttrolf to outdrink an alien and take back The Enterprise while the alien was too drunk to fight back, it wound up in this auction where it sold for an undisclosed amount.
Curious about other art terms or objects? E-mail us at stories@getty.edu.
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