Opaque Twist Stems
Georgian opaque twist wine glasses are the second most common form of all Georgian glasses after classical plain stems and they are the easiest to recognise and have mesmerising variations in both pattern and colour. In the USA opaque twist glasses are often referred to as cotton twist stems, cotton twist glasses or simply 18th century twist stem glasses.
Placing enamel canes into a metal cylinder and filling with molten glass ensured each cane retained their relative position. A process of re-heating and drawing out the stem and carefully twisting the rod resulted in a seemingly endless variety of patterns. The addition of coloured rods further increased the variation and complexity of structure within the stems.
The earliest and most rare examples are single series opaque twists (SSOT). Double series opaque twists result from the careful placing of the inner elements (straight rods of enamel) into a mould ,a '”carrot” is made with the inner elements still straight. This carrot is then introduced into another mould, with the canes carefully placed to form the outer element, and another gather of glass is then placed over the whole carrot which is pulled and twisted to form the end result.
Triple series were also made but are very rare indeed. English and continental soda examples are quite plentiful but the lead metal examples are more desirable.
All bowls types and sizes of drinking glasses are encountered with opaque twist stems, from the tall end elegant ratafia and toasting glasses , long stemmed cordials and small firing glasses. The Beiby family frequently enamelled the bowls of opaque twists, it is the most common stem form for Lynn moulded bowls and genuine Jacobite sympathy glasses following The ‘45 are also found in this form.
The most frequently encountered colour twist is red of a Georgian wine glass, particularly in non-lead glass examples of Dutch origin, with blue and pink being harder to find. Purple, green and yellow single colour twists become progressively rarer. Two-colour combinations are rare but not as highly sought after as three-colour combinations, which command considerable interest from both collectors and investors, museums and aesthetes alike.
A Floral Engraved Georgian Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1760
A Floral Engraved Georgian Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1760
£450.00
A James Giles Gilded Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1770
A James Giles Gilded Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1770
£1,475.00
Floral Engraved Opaque Twist Georgian Wine Glass c1760
Floral Engraved Opaque Twist Georgian Wine Glass c1760
£425.00
Georgian Opaque Twist Stem Champagne Flute c1760
Georgian Opaque Twist Stem Champagne Flute. One of many twist stem glasses and antique champagne glasses in our online store
£165.00
Georgian Rib Moulded Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
Georgian Rib Moulded Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£110.00
Antique Opaque Twist Stem Champagne Flute c1760
One of many antique wine glasses to be found in our online store
£190.00
Georgian Rib Moulded Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
Georgian Rib Moulded Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£125.00
Georgian Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
Georgian Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£160.00
An Opaque Twist Stem Champagne Flute c1760
Opaque Twist Stem Champagne Flute, one of many twist stem antique wine glasses for sale
£135.00
Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
A Georgian wine glass. One of many antique twist stem wine glasses within our online store
£165.00
18th Century Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1760
The twist stem wine glass is one of many antique drinking glasses for sale within our online store
£150.00
Georgian Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
One on many twist stem glasses and antique drinking glasses to be found within our online store
£135.00
Tall Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass With Fluke Air Threads c1760
Tall Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass With Fluke Air Threads c1760
£230.00
A Rare 18th Century Bucket Bowl Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
A Rare 18th Century Bucket Bowl Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£350.00
A Large Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
A Large Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass
£270.00
A Fine 18th Century Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
A Fine 18th Century Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£245.00
A Rib Moulded Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1760
A Rib Moulded Opaque Twist Stem Wine Glass c1760
£170.00
Arare Lipped Opaque Twist Stem Ale or Champagne Flute c1760
An Opaque Twist Stem Flute c1760
£190.00
Antique Wine Glass With Single Series Opaque Twist Stem c1760
Antique Wine Glass With Single Series Opaque Twist Stem c1760
£135.00
Regency Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1815
Regency Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1815
£145.00
Georgian Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c 1760
Georgian Double Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c 1760
£175.00
Large Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
Large Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£295.00
A Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
A Georgian Single Series Opaque Twist Wine Glass c1760
£220.00