Three Georgian dwarf ale glasses (ca. 1720-1750).

Dwarf ale glasses are small drinking glasses with a short stem. In use for over 150 years, they were made for drinking ale, which was typically stronger during Georgian times.[1]

Purpose and appearance

Drinking glasses reserved for one particular alcoholic drink is a relatively modern concept; dwarf ale glasses would have undoubtedly been used for other beverages in addition to ale. By modern standards, they may seem small when compared to tankards and contemporary pint glasses.[2] In a historical context, however, the capacity of drinking vessels was in proportion to the strength of their intended beverage, with small glasses reserved for strong alcoholic beverages.[3] In recent years, there have been significant changes in this regard. This is best exemplified by the sevenfold increase in wine glass capacity over the last 300 years.[4]

Dwarf ale glasses are characterized by the presence of a funnel (or rounded funnel) bowl with a short, rudimentary or vestigial stem. They are typically 125 mm in height and hold around 100 mL of liquid. There are many exceptions to this rule, though.[3]

The underside of a conical foot on an 18th century (c1780) dwarf ale glass. This shows a broken pontil mark, air bubbles and a tiny inclusion of grit.

Owing to the large time period in which they were produced, dwarf ale glasses are varied in their appearance. A common form is the wrythen (twisted) dwarf ale glass, which is encountered with tight or wide wrythening on the bowl. In addition, the wrythen-moulding can extend from the bowl to the stem of the glass or be limited to half of the bowl. A rare type is the flammiform (flame-like gadrooning) dwarf ale glass, which was popular at the turn of the 18th century. Other forms are frequently found engraved with hop cone and barley ear motifs.[3][5] Early glasses are often adorned with a conical folded foot, but this is not necessarily a prerequisite of age.[3] Moreover, some 19th century glasses possess a folded foot.[6]

The underside of a folded foot on an 18th century (c1750) ale glass.

Age and dating

The glasses were made and used from the late 17th century into the 19th century.[3][7]

Determining the age dwarf ale glasses is challenging due to them being manufactured throughout the 18th century and into the 19th in high numbers.[8][9][10] Some dwarf ale glasses can be reliably dated as early examples:[11] In particular, those possessing winged or propeller knops are attributed to the late 17th and early 18th century.[12][13] Dwarf ale glasses with gadrooned wrythening, including those with a flammiform fringe, are often dated as early to mid-18th century. Indeed, some authors go further and attribute heavy gadrooning as being indicative of earlier examples (late 17th century).[14][15] However, others note that flammifrom glasses were made throughout the 18th century.[8][16]

Use in society

Edinburgh Ale by Hill & Adamson (c1844).

Strong ales and beer were socially important during most of the Georgian period. During this time, ale was notably stronger than it is today and akin to modern day barley wines.[17] Because of high sediment content it was typically decanted into small glasses.[18] Indeed, one can gauge the popularity of dwarf ale glasses by the high number and variety that have been preserved to the present day.[19]

Unfortunately, no contemporaneous drawings, paintings or engravings unambiguously demonstrate their use in society (see the works of William Hogarth which show scenes of alcohol consumption during the 18th century). However, written accounts from the late 17th century exist which elude to the small capacity of 'the Glasses as we drinke Somerset ale out of'. Somerset was particularly famous for strong ales in this period.[20]

With the invention of photography in the 19th century, it was possible to gain an accurate insight into the drinking practices within taverns. Indeed, the photograph by Hill & Adamson shows three gentlemen sharing a bottle of strong ale. As can clearly be seen on the table, ale flutes are being used. The ale flutes in question are similar in form and capacity, albeit with a slightly elongated bowl and stem, to dwarf ale glasses. This photograph gives a brief window through time into the past tradition of consuming strong ale in small glasses.

See also

References

  1. ^ Newman, Harold (1977). An Illustrated Dictionary of Glass. Thames and Hudson. p. 101. ISBN 0-500-27451-7.
  2. ^ Rock, Hugh (2006). Pub beer mugs and glasses. Princes Risborough: Shire. ISBN 978-0-7478-0656-1. OCLC 70402019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Parry, Stephen (1 December 1978). Dwarf Ale Glasses and Their Victorian Successors. POLYPTOTON. ISBN 9780950584317.
  4. ^ Zupan, Zorana; Evans, Alexandra; Couturier, Dominique-Laurent; Marteau, Theresa M. (2017-12-13). "Wine glass size in England from 1700 to 2017: a measure of our time". BMJ. 359: j5623. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5623. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 5728305. PMID 29237588.
  5. ^ Trubridge, P. C. (1972). "The English Ale Glasses 1685-1830". The Glass Circle. 1: 51–57.
  6. ^ "Search results for dwarf ale glass". www.19cglass.co.uk.
  7. ^ Trubridge, P. C. (1979). "Ale/Beer Glasses in the 19th century". The Glass Circle. 3: 87–96. OCLC 65802919.
  8. ^ a b "Georgian 18th Century Dwarf Ale Glasses". www.18cglass.co.uk/.
  9. ^ Gabriel, Ronald (1974). English drinking glasses. London: Charles Letts. ISBN 0-85097-085-7. OCLC 12752637.
  10. ^ Hajdamach, Charles R. (1999). British Glass, 1800-1914 (Reprint of first ed.). Antique Collectors' Club. p. 250. ISBN 1-85149-141-4. OCLC 1304882788.
  11. ^ Bickerton, L. M (1986). Eighteenth Century English Drinking Glasses: An Illustrated Guide. Antique Collectors' Club Ltd. ISBN 9781851493517.
  12. ^ "An early propeller-knop dwarf ale glass circa 1710". www.sothebys.com/.
  13. ^ Rodgers, Don. "The Bargain Hunter: Don Rodgers". www.walesonline.co.uk.
  14. ^ Crompton, Sidney (1967). English glass;. E. M. Elville, Euan Ross. London: Ward Lock. ISBN 0-7063-1029-2. OCLC 455862.
  15. ^ Charleston, R. J. (1984). English glass and the glass used in England, circa 400-1940. London: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 0-04-748003-3. OCLC 11220526.
  16. ^ Haynes, E. Barrington (1959). Glass through the ages (Revised ed.). Pengiun Books Ltd. p. 292.
  17. ^ (Brewer), Ellis, William (2006). The London and country brewer. Echo Library. ISBN 1-4068-0507-6. OCLC 190932446.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Hartshorne, Albert (1897). Old English Glasses. Edward Arnold. p. 306.
  19. ^ Campbell, Andrew (1956). The Book of Beer. Dennis Dobson. pp. 70, 132–133.
  20. ^ Hughes, G. Bernard (1956). English, Scottish and Irish table glass from the sixteenth century to 1820. Bramhall. p. 211. ISBN 119907277X.
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