Georgian Somerset Wrythen Ale Glass c1760

Description

Heading : Georgian Somerset wrythen ale glass
Date : c1760
Period : George III
Origin : England
Colour : Clear
Bowl : A wrythen moulded conical bowl
Stem : Double shoulder knop with the wrythen moulding continuing over the knops
Foot : Conical
Pontil : Snapped
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 14.3cm tall with a 6.4cm bowl and a 6.9cm foot
Condition : The rim has three chips. the largest being 5mm wide
Restoration : None
Weight : 151 grams

Additional Information : This particular moulding variant. rotating from near vertical on the lower bowl to almost horizontal at the rim is often referred to as a “Somerset”. but we cannot find any reason why. It is possible that the form originated in one of the Bristol glasshouses of North Somerset.

It is widely accepted that champagne flutes and ale glasses shared this form. The wrythening would not be suitable for champagnes as this would obfuscate the bubbles within the wine. By the same token it may also help to hide the cloudiness of ale and beer ( no hops) and if the Bristol/Somerset origin is true then also scrumpy and cider which ideally should be cloudy and still.

References : English Drinking Glasses by Ronald Gabriel – Page 56 Plate 47.

English. Scottish & Irish Table Glass By G. Bernard Hughes – Page 217 Figure 171.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Glass By Harold Newman – Page 348.

Dwarf Ale Glasses and their Victorian Successors By Stephen Parry – Page 2.