Topic: Dram glass

[RoyJ99]

Ok so another one from my car boot purchases the other day. Don't think this dram glass has any age but I do have a couple of questions. Is this type of glass what I have seen referred to as a firing glass? Also there appears to be some raised mark on the base which I have tried to take some pics of, could this be a poor makers mark/signature or just a manufacturing flaw. The glass measures 7cm x 3.5cm and is very light.

Thanks.









 

[Paul S.]

this may be a form of dram glass, but in my opinion is not a firing or ships glass, and from what you say it sounds to be too light in construction - and certainly looks more like a cheap pub/tavern glass from somewhere around the late C19 or even into the C20.         I can't see much wear on the foot of this one, and would suggest that the base mark you mention is possibly where the pontil scar has been reheated to remove the sharpness.
The lack of wear, absence of a sharp pontil scar, too small a foot and possibly the lack of a lead glass ring, all contribute to saying this is wrong.

Firing glasses were popular throughout most of the C18 (but don't think they started until c. 1730) and crept on into the Regency period and there are even some known to be dated as late as c. 1850 ish, apparently.             Their feet were exceptionally thick - likewise their short stems - with conical and trumpet bowl being possibly the most common, and they're found often with Masonic engraving/decoration.           Construction is frequently with a drawn stem.
Ships' glasses are similar apparently, and are said to have even wider feet, for obvious reasons.                 Both Bickerton and G. Barrington Hughes show examples  -  although Bicketon is rather short on text.

Believe Peter has a great collection of dram glasses, and we might persuade him to show us some C18 firing, ships' and dram glasses - if he's listening

[RoyJ99]

Thanks Paul, only info I could really find about firing glass was short stem, wide foot etc, the info you have given is very helpful. The mark I was referring to is on the top of the foot not on the base as I wrote on my original post. Back to the car boot tomorrow so hopefully some more posts over the next few days .

[Paul S.]

o.k. then, possibly some irregularity where the foot joins the stem.

the type of glasses you might be tempted to associate this sort with, are genuine C18 pieces  -  and wrong indentifications are likely unless you invest in one or two books to assist.
Of course, the alternative is to buy some authentic examples and then you will have the real thing with which to make comparisons.

Hope you do well at the boot sale.

[brucebanner]

Looks like a 1950's French sherry glass to me.

[Antwerp1954]

See picture for an example of a firing glass with a really thick foot.

[Paul S.]

nice piece Stuart.          Pic attached of my only example (lead glass) - on which I've written 'dram firing glass c. 1770', but which I'm now tempted to think is in fact a ships glass because GBH says........     "Towards the end of the eighteenth century ships' glasses might have ovoid bowls with 1/2-inch drawn stems and massive disc feet, vertically rimmed" (the italics are mine)  -  although I appreciate mine doesn't have an ovoid bowl.         Unfortunately, he also says (later in the section on firing glasses) that  ....  "Punty scars were ground from ships' glasses, but are requently present on eighteenth-century firing glasses"............    so really a bit confused now.

There is some evidence to indicate that firing glasses didn't appear until c. 1740, which was the approximate date of the introduction of the tunnel leer  -  prior to which glass had been annealed in sealed ovens or kilns.          Glass which wasn't annealed in the sense of the tunnel leer, might not be expected to stand up to the act of 'firing' or 'bumping'.          The same author contends that..........."Oven-annealed flint-glass stems could not possibly have withstood bumping."

Please feel free to comment  -  I'm sure there must be Board members who have much more knowledge of these glasses

[Paul S.]

sorry, forgot the height...........     4" - about 105  m/m.

[oldglassman]

Hi,
          Paul S, your glass has what is known as a flanged foot and its a firing glass, I have no idea what GBH is on about re Ships glasses , this is a term that has been around for a very long time as a theory that some glasses with extra wide feet (not flanged feet) were for use on board ships  like the ships decanters which are squat with a low center of gravity , although records do exist for the production of ships decanters there are none known to me for ships glasses.

cheers ,
               Peter.

photos added of a few firing glasses (no ships) with various feet forms

[brucebanner]

This looks like a Dartington "Victoria" sherry glass but i can't make out the underside of the bowl from the pics it should have a lip.