At the end of the Middle Ages optical decoration made by mould-blowing became more common. With the help of a mould it was quick and inexpensive to manufacture large quantities of glasses which had a surface enlivened with a checked or ribbed pattern. ΓÇÿMass productionΓÇÖ began with these glasses, of which the small Maigelein is the best example. Medieval optically decorated beakers, which were mainly green but sometimes blue or purple, resembled silver beakers in their shape. The size of these beakers varied greatly ΓÇö the smallest were only a few centimetres, while the largest were over 15 cm high. The beakers were produced mainly in southern and western Germany, but in the Baltic region they did not become common until the 16th century.
