Do you ever think about your wine glass stem? Probably not....
 |
|||
Do you ever think about your wine glass stem?
Probably not. I know you think about WARS & TAXES. These directly affected how our wine glasses look.
England set the standard in drinking glasses during the 18th century. In 1675 glassmaker Ravenscroft developed
a formula with 24-30% lead that would make glass “ping” (which we all love), clearer & less subject to surface
cracks. (“Soda” glass, an early simple form, cooled more quickly & “plunks” rather than “pings”). Lead glass
was soft, engraved well & cooled slowly, enabling intricate manipulation of the stems.
There were 3 basic forms: Baluster, Twist
Stem & Facet Stem.
Baluster c1690-1725 – the stem named after the architectural short baluster pillar - heavy, with
knopped stems & air bubbles (tears), and “folded” footrims to protect the edges;
& Balustroid c1725-50 – a lighter slender form of the baluster – still with decorative air tears in the stem.
In 1745 an Excise tax was levied on glass “by weight” – supposedly to make
the glass blowers reuse
some of their shards & use less wood in the firing – leaving wood for boat-building. (Coincidentally
there was a war with Spain –1739 – emerging into the War of Austrian Succession, 1740-48). The tax caused
glass blowers to seek ways to lighten glass. They removed the fold-over of foot, and found that they could
manipulate and elongate the air bubble in baluster stems, leading to the second form of glass...
the Twist Stem: Airtwist, 1745-70, then Enamel Twist,1755-85.
The slow cooling of the lead glass enabled complex precise multi-spiral stems to be drawn out and attached
at the bowl and stem. With enamel twists, various colored glass rods were inserted – the rarest color actually
being brown. Some of these have not only multiple knops, but well executed engraving. The twist stems are quite
complex & amazing in their precision.
In 1777 (coincidentally during a war with the Americas), another Excise tax doubled the fee levied
on colored glass, including enamel twists. That led glassmakers to develop further yet another stem –
the Facet-Cut Stem, reflecting the taste in the very popular glass chandeliers of the period.
These were popular c1780-1825.
Complete Glassware Page:
http://www.mfordcreech.com/glassware.htm
We also have 4 now
rare new hardcover copies of
MILLER’S GLASS, by Mark West, at 32.50 EACH.
These new hardcovers are being sold elsewhere 53.00 to 200.00 each.
|
CLICK HERE FOR 2010 NEW LISTINGS
|
We welcome and encourage all inquiries. We will make every attempt to answer any questions you might have.
For information, call (901) 761-1163 or (901) 827-4668 or email mfcreech@bellsouth.net
American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover accepted
|
Accessories Ceramics Early Asian Ceramics Fine Art Furniture Glassware Silver Home |