Before plastic was invented, there were only so many ways to carry liquids. Either the liquid was in skin for traveling, or in kegs and barrels for wine or in glass and crystals. There was, of course, pewter, and copper or tin, but in terms of elegance glassware was the choice for formal or find dining. Antique glass collectors are relatively few, antique glass being a lot more common place an item than antique watches. But collecting antique glass is a one which brings lots of surprises to those who have the perseverance and patience.
Antique glass, is technically any old glass ware dating to before 1900. Glass ware of the period was hand made (or, rather hand-blown) and designed one at a time. This method gives antique glass a level of uniqueness right from the factory floor.
Collectibles from the 1700 to 1800 range from stem glasses for drinking wine, cordials and spirits. Some antique glass of the period include balusters and balustroids, pedestal and plain stems, facet stems, air twists, opaque twists and incised stems. The names designate the designs for the stems.
Popular drinks during the era, as it is today, were gin and ale. Ale was very strong and was drunk in relatively small glasses with a funnel shape, called “dwarf ales”. Bowl designs included hops and barley. The glass was made in wrythen glass. And I thought that ale and pilsen was drunk in metal steins and pints.
Other antique glass which are still in existence today as heirlooms are jelly glasses, syllabubs and custard cups. These were used to serve desserts and displayed on a pyramid of tazzas.
Of course, there are antique glass which were originally made for everyday use: like whiskey tumblers, flutes, wine goblets and the like. One antique glass with a curious name is the rummer. To think that a glass was made specifically for drinking rum is very curious indeed. But it was not solely used to drink rum, but also for hot toddy, which was made of rum, water, spices and sugar.
Other antique glass ware are port, sherry and gin glasses, drams, lamps, globes, and others. More common then than now are decanters. Decanters are used to serve wine. Unlike today where wine is served from the bottle, this was not usually the case up to the 19th century. The wine was stored in barrels and drawn out to decanters prior to serving. These came into use in the mid-18th century and became popular in the early 19th century.
The list above is not a full comprehensive list as there are other types of antique glass. Though these antique glasses are more recognizable and a lot more common than other types of glass collectibles.
