drinking glasses

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:41 am Post subject: drinking glasses

Hi everybody,

My question concerns the type of glasses used in drinking various liquors. Were snifters in use during the Regency for brandy? What kind of glass did one use for port or sherry? Were they made of crystal? I just keep coming across the general term, tumbler.

Thanks!

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

There are a plethora of glasses for drinking all kinds of beverages. This antique dealer might be of interest for those who wish to see some of the options. A few of the glasses under "Rummers" look somewhat like snifters, but I don't see anything that I would call an actual snifter.
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: Glassware

Thanks, Kalen. Could you post the link again? Didn't seem to work.

Vanessa

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject:

Here's the link, Vanessa: http://www.antique-glass.co.uk/Ale-champagne_glasses.htm Click on the various buttons to see things like rummers, etc. It gives a pretty good overview of the various types of drinking glasses.

I happen to have a small collection of 18th century and Regency glassware, mostly ale flutes and cordial glasses, wine and champage glasses, and one fabulous Georgian rummer. I'll do a "collections" article on my website one day.

As for brandy snifters, those are fairly modern. I'm guessing that during the Georgian and Regency periods brandy was drunk out of the all-purpose wine glass. They would not have used the big rummer, I don't think, which was used for toddies and punches and Rhenish white wines. If you look at period paintings that include scenes at tables with drinks, eg those of Hogarth, you mostly see gentlemen drinking out of small wine glasses (and holding them by the foot, not the stem). Cordial glasses were even smaller because those cordials were POTENT.
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Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:12 am Post subject:

What a fantastic link, Candice, thank you! I was astonished to see the ale flutes. Ale flutes! But...hang on...Why shiver me timbers, aren't they forerunners of the modern Pilsner glass? Arrr.
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Ath
Bed in a Bog has Runned Away Wink

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:45 am Post subject: Glassware

Thanks, Candice, that's a great site. What beautiful glassware, and it's so wonderful to have a clear mental image of what people were really using during the Regency. I have several scenes with alcohol in my manuscript, and it just seemed boring and inaccurate to refer incessantly to a glass of this, and a glass of that. Your info really helps. I love the detail that men held the glass by the base, rather than the stem. Brings the picture into focus.

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Do you all know how much I yearn to buy a few of those glasses? *Must control expensive impulse shopping*
_________________
-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com