Topic: Miniature drinking glass

[bat20]

Hi , there’s a 2 pence piece in the photo to give you an idea of the size of this glass, it’s blown with tooling marks and a polished pontil ,one can feel wear along the edge of the foot and it has a distinct grey colour .Child’s play glass ?..dolls house ?very small liqueur ?..Any thoughts ? Thanks .

[david31162]

It looks like a firing glass to me as the base is so thick and able to withstand hammering on a table.
Probably more accurately a deceptive firing glass, the thickened glass in the bowl giving the illusion of more liquid. Not sure about age but it is most likely C19th , I've not seen that exact shape before.
 See explanation and earlier examples here https://www.18cglass.co.uk/georgian-18th-century-firing-glasses/
David

[bat20]

Thanks for your reply David , it hadn’t crossed my mind that it could be a firing glass but now you mention it perhaps it maybe ?.You spurned me on to have a look through a few books I’ve got and I see what you mean about the foot ,some do have a very similar look about them .In A Wine Lover’s Glasses the AC Hubbard,Jr Collection,there is even one with a bowl a bit like mine although that one has a colour twist stem.What I can’t find is a glass as tiny as mine ,which is 2.5 “ high ,the smallest ones I’ve come across are just under 4”.I would guess with such a small glass the maker wouldn’t bother with a stem one could date it by easily ?

[david31162]

Just been through a couple of my books which mainly relate to Georgian glasses. The average size seems to be a little larger at 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches for firing glasses but I'm certain I've seen (and have) smaller ones. A google image search of 'small'and 'tiny firing glasses' finds plenty at 2 plus inches but none yet of that exact form. I just cant see any other reason to make a shot-sized glass with such a heavy base. I've got many old shot/tot glasses of that size with a finer foot.
David

[Ivo]

Tradesmen's samples.

[bat20]

I’m certainly moving towards a shot firing glass,does anyone know when this sort of toasting went out of fashion ?, may help with dating .I don’t think it’s a tradesmen glass I’ve had a couple and they were exact miniatures of recognisable glasses , in one case a 1810 rummer .Thanks very much for the input , I’ll add one more photo of the rim to show the very distinct blip when it was cut off