Exhibit Antiques has dated this Georgian Wrythen Ale Glass to the Georgian era.
A fine 18th-century Somerset Ale glass dating to c1770.
It has a tall conical bowl with full wrythen moulding, the spiralling ribs sweeping almost horizontally around the rim before gradually descending down the bowl, continuing through a small shoulder knop and terminating above a conical foot with a rough pontil.
Date & Origin
England, c1770. Period of King George III.
Condition
Excellent. No chips, cracks or restoration.
Dimensions
Height: 12.9 cm
Rim Diameter: 5.2 cm
Foot Diameter: 6 cm
Weight: 116 grams
Historical Context
During the mid-18th century, glassmakers increasingly employed wrythen moulding to create decorative optical effects, producing elegant spiralling patterns that caught and reflected candlelight while demonstrating the skill of the glassblower.
This distinctive form is commonly known amongst collectors as a "Somerset Ale" glass. The name is generally believed to derive from Somerset's long-standing reputation for brewing strong ales, although there is no evidence that these glasses were exclusively made in, or for, Somerset. Today the term is recognised as a traditional collectors' description rather than a definitive place of manufacture.
Exhibit Antiques has dated this Georgian Wrythen Ale Glass to the Georgian era.
Specialists in 18th & 19th century antique glass
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18th Century Georgian Somerset Ale Glass with Full Wrythen Moulding C1770
