Topic: Info on Glasses with 7 facet cuts Vintage or not ?

[petet63]

Hi all, I picked up these glasses and would like some pointers if I can. They are 10.5 cm in height, 5.5cm rim and 6cm foot. They have 7 facets (is that the correct term ?) that run down the stem to the foot.  They are very solid glasses and I'm unsure if they are crystal as it has a ring but doesn't resonate (hope that makes sense) I for some reason had the word 'Rummer' in my head but could be a small wine or port glass maybe. Far too confusing when trying to see which glass is supposed to be used for which drink. I would have the same problem with cutlery ! I don't normally pick up glasses but they looked nice and cost nothing. Thanks. Pete

[Anne]

I might be leading you astray, but I always associate glasses with feet wider than the top rim as being older... I'm sure someone will be able to enlighten you (and me!) if I'm wrong though.

[Lustrousstone]

Those look like late 19th/very early 20th C to me.

[Paul S.]

Pete  -  your facets are a tpe of decoration called sliced cut, and the construction is a drawn shank or drawn stem i.e. the stem is created by drawing glass away from that of the bowl, making a two piece glass (the other 'piece' being the foot).   Not a rummer though, and I might suggest this is a port or sherry (traditionally, port glasses were a little smaller than sherry glasses) - and Anne's comments about width of foot are correct, in general, although there are always exceptions.
Unfortunately, you don't comment about the foot at all  -  if there is a polished pontil scar they have some quality  -  if not and you have a 'gadget mark' (unlikely I think) then less quality.       Date wise they might be anywhere from 1860 to 1900  -  and wear, if any, might help you here.    If they 'ring' well, then they should contain lead, but not sure about your comments regarding resonance.
There are such poionters as looking for the shears mark on the rim - looking for stones in the glass - and the colour of the glass might also help to date this piece, but pound to a penny it's Victorian.

[Paul S.]

just one or two further comments Pete  -  I understand that with rummers the foot diameter is less than that of the rim, usually -  plus the fact that rummers were of a larger capacity bowl than your glasses.         Despite being common, sliced/petal cuts are attractive, I think.
Apologies for posting a picture of one of my glasses  -  do you think they look similar?
P.S.   With cutlery, I'm always being told to start from the outside and work inwards.

[petet63]

Thanks Paul, very informative and helpful and gives me a clear picture. I will photograph the base later and post them.  I can see now where the stem was attached. The foot has a small slightly convex button of glass and there are some faint rings as well. I ill do my best to get good pictures as my knowledge of the correct terms is limited.  What I mean by the resonance is when I flick the glass it rings like crystal but it stops almost immediately. I like the sound when it goes on for a few seconds ( That may sound strange to some, I like the smell of new Tarmac as well so shoot me 
   I think its good they lasted this long, There were 4 but two were badly damaged on the foot.
Loustrousstone, your glass is very similar. the foot on yours where it joins the stem is the same and please feel free to add pics to threads of mine. A pic is worth a thousand words, or used to before photoshop 

[Paul S.]

Hello Pete  -  I didn't think that Lustrousstone had added a picture - yet
quote..............."What I mean by the resonance is when I flick the glass it rings like crystal but it stops almost immediately".       Drinking glasses - and some other hollow shaped pieces - will often ring due simply to their shape - not necessarily because they contain lead.    As I understand it, proper lead crystal - particularly drinking glasses because they are of thin construction and hollow - should have a good ring that resonates and dies gradually.
I also like the smell of wet tar - new mown grass - hops - moth balls and even horse manure can be evocative.

I won't comment yet, but there is a very important reason why I added a picture of my glass..........will wait until you have posted a pic. of the base of yours before I explain.

P.S.   A inexpensive, but exceptionally useful book on drinking glasses, is the paperback from E. Barrington Haynes "Glass Through The Ages" - and although it's concerned mainly with glasses older than yours, it's one of those books that is also a very good read.   It was 13/- somewhere about 1970, but you might need now to pay a little more - I seem to remember that Anne said she paid something like £0.50p for hers  

[petet63]

I thought I was a bit strange but I think I will let you have that one :24:
It does ring and dies gradually but just very quickly (must be a male glass ) The glasses are quite thick, I guess that has something to do with the processes they used when they were made. I have tended to avoid glasses as there's tons out there but on occasion something stands out. I have ordered that book you mentioned. I use ebay constantly yet never thought to look for books (I need to change my medication. ) I took the pics, hope they give the right view.

[Paul S.]

thanks - and although you don't describe the underside of the foot, believe I can just make out that there is a shallow ground/polished pontil mark  -  so we're probably o.k. going with the original description, and nice Victorian glasses.        It can be more helpful sometimes to describe the physical aspects of drinking glasses in particular, as not always easy to see details in people's pix - clear glass is notorious for being difficult to snap.
And the point of including a picture of my glass was that despite looking very similar to yours - ringing well - and with same small collar at the base of the stem...................it was made probably the best part of 100 years later.      No pontil mark/scar, and on the underside is a back stamp which reads 'THOS WEBB/ENGLAND', indicating it was made probably in the late 1960's or 1970's.         Nice glass mind you.
So really just a reminder that appearances of drinking glasses can be very deceptive, and it pays to look before you leap.
Hope you enjoy the book.

[petet63]

Thanks Paul, I have received the book along  with another. I'm pretty busy with listing etc. as I had a shopping spree got 9 pieces of Cumbria crystal and a Stuart Carafe and glass, 8 as I now know, Nachtmann Hock all for a silly price. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face if you tried. I really enjoy finding things and then learning from them. I'm certainly a lot better at picking than I used to be. Mostly down to people like yourself and the rest of GMB being willing to take time and answer. (I missed GMB when they were sorting things) Just wish my memory worked better, (not age its medication) My excuse and sticking with it : ) Thanks. pete