SOLD – Georgian Somerset Wrythen Ale Glasses c1760

Description

Heading : Georgian Somerset wrythen ale glass
Date : c1760
Period : George II
Origin : English
Colour : Clear
Bowl : Conical
Bowl Features : Wrythen moulded
Stem : Knopped
Stem Features : Double shoulder knop and the wrythen moulding continues over the knops
Foot : Conical
Pontil : Snapped
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 5 3/8 inches tall with a 2 3/8 inch bowl and 2 3/4 inch foot
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks. air bubble in foot as shown
Restoration : None
Weight : 152 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 moulding. It is also widely accepted that champagne flutes and ale glasses shared this form.  Some conjecture.  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.

References :

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

Glass By E. Barrington Haynes – Plate 62i and 63a.

Miller’s Glass Buyers Guide – Page 147.

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