Baluster Stems

Heavy Baluster and Baluster Stem Georgian Wine Glasses

Of all antique Georgian drinking glasses the heavy baluster wine glass and baluster stem wine glasses of the 17th and early18th century English owe their form and existence to the slower cooling lead glass (lead crystal or flint glass if you prefer) developed at the Savoy glass house. The glass was not suited to the production of the earlier Venetian styles with thin and light funnel shaped bowls, although examples do exist. A Georgian baluster glass of the late 17th and early 18th centuries owes its distinctive style to necessity and English invention. English baluster wine glasses may be true balusters, the stem becoming progressively thicker towards the foot , or inverted balusters. There are a multitude of different stem types, swellings in the glass stem called "knops". These may be baluster knops, angular knops, drop knops, mushroom knops and there are some rare forms such as acorn knops, cylinder and egg types. Stems and knops occasionally contain tears and may also be hollow and occasionally contain coins within a hollow knop.

Antique 18th century examples, prior to the imposition of taxes on glass, have a folded foot or domed foot or very rarely terraced and beehive shaped feet. Those with less common knop types are avidly sought. There are examples in soda glass mostly continental and these are much underrated in my opinion.

Sizes vary from goblets that can hold a quart of wine to deceptive toastmaster glasses that hold a fluid ounce and a baluster dram glass holds a quarter gill of less. A baluster cordial glass will have a small bowl too. As a rule of thumb baluster glasses became progressively smaller as the 18th century progressed. Engraved examples do exist but these are almost invariably later engraved. The most common bowl types are round funnel and bell shaped or waisted bowls.

Inverted balusters are the most pleasurable to use as they are both tactile and tend not to slip in the hand. These are iconic glasses and every eclectic collection should have one or two examples in lead glass or soda.

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18th Century Annulated Knop Baluster Wine Glass c1730

18th Century Annulated Knop Baluster Wine Glass c1730

A very fine Baluster stem Georgian wine glass from c1720 in excellent condition. For more antique glassware, including a wide range of Georgian drinking glasses, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,150.00

Baluster Stem Georgian Wine Glass c1720

Baluster Stem Georgian Wine Glass c1720

A very fine baluster stem Georgian wine glass from c1720 in excellent condition. For more antique glassware, including a wide range of Georgian drinking glasses, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,300.00

A Very Fine Rococo Engraved Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Very Fine Rococo Engraved Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Very Fine Rococo Engraved Baluster Wine Glass c1725

£1,550.00

Large Queen Heavy Baluster Goblet  c1710

Large Queen Heavy Baluster Goblet c1710

A very fine heavy baluster wine glass from c1700 in excellent condition. For more antique glassware, including a wide range of Georgian wine glasses, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£2,500.00

Large 18th Century Baluster Wine Glass With Domed Foot c1725

Large 18th Century Baluster Wine Glass With Domed Foot c1725

Large 18th Century Baluster Wine Glass With Domed Foot c1725

£975.00

A Fine Queen Anne Baluster Glass Goblet c1710

A Fine Queen Anne Baluster Glass Goblet c1710

A Queen Anne Baluster Glass Goblet c1710

£2,950.00

A Georgian Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Georgian Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Baluster Wine Glass c1725

£875.00

A Fine Triple Knopped Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Fine Triple Knopped Baluster Wine Glass c1725

A Fine Triple Knopped Baluster Wine Glass c1725

£1,200.00

An Early Rococo Engraved Balustroid Wine Glass c1730-40

An Early Rococo Engraved Balustroid Wine Glass c1730-40

A Rococo Engraved Balustroid Wine Glass c1735

£775.00

Queen Anne Baluster Wine Goblet c1710

Queen Anne Baluster Wine Goblet c1710

Queen Anne Baluster Wine Goblet c1710

£3,200.00

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