A
drinking
glass during the
Middle Ages, a
Venice glass became a
synonym for
perfection in the time.
These legendary
vessels were said to be of such perfect
composition and
design that if even the smallest bit of
poison were put into them, they would break into small
shards, therefore protecting the intended
victim from harm or death.
Obviously this would be seen as a most highly
valuable possession for the
upper class to possess, especially those of the
courts of
Europe, and it is reported that the
Vatican and the
Renaissance popes invested a great sum of money to ensure its drinking wares were of the finest
Venetian glass.
Info from E. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable