We are excited to be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Prickett and Ellis at Kenwood House this week.
We shan’t be using period glasses for our little drinks soiree, but the glasses that our founder would have been ...
We are excited to be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Prickett and Ellis at Kenwood House this week.
We shan’t be using period glasses for our little drinks soiree, but the glasses that our founder would have been familiar with at this great house are now sought after collectors’ items. Here’s what to look out for:
During the Georgian period the English became famous for the excellence of their lead glass which almost entirely replaced Venetian soda glass which had dominated the European market for centuries. These glasses were made in three different pieces – the base (or foot) which was usually made by a lowly apprentice, the stem which was much more tricky and therefore the work of a master craftsman and then the bowl which was made by the boss who also joined the pieces together.
The marks left during this process are a great guide to authenticity, especially the blob or scar on the bottom known as the pontil
which was created when the glass was broken free form the blowpipe.
Some basic shapes to look out for:
Balusters and Balustroids
These are so called because the shape of the stem is like the baluster on a staircase ie a decorative pillar supporting the bowl of the glass.
Baluster glass c. 1740
Air Twist Glass
Air twist glasses were also known as wormed glasses in the mid 18th century due to their appearance; almost as if a worm had crawled through the glass, leaving a trail behind it where it had “eaten” the glass. The introduction of air to the glass stem lightened it and it is probably no coincidence that the popularity of air twist glasses coincided with the 1745 Excise Act which imposed a tax on glass according to its weight.
Plain Stem Glass
Not a tricky one to learn – just a simple and very collectable glass with an etched bowl. The plain stems held different shaped bowls and there were variations on the foot too.
Facet Stem Glass
As the 18th century came to an end the art of cutting advanced towards its zenith, and stems of drinking glasses were not spared the treatment. The twists that dominated the middle of the century made way for cut stems, or faceted stems, which reflected the candlelight. Normally cut with hexagons or diamond shapes, the cutting varies from the clumsy to the sublime. The one above dates from around 1780.
This is just a tiny taste of the style and beauty of Georgian glass – there are so many variations and a great deal to learn. Some are extremely expensive but it is possible to buy an original for under £100. I think they are really beautiful and would happily put a couple on my mantelpiece.
