What is a dram glass?

A dram glass is a small, historical vessel intended for a single measure of neat spirits like whisky or gin. Their compact capacity reflects the potency of the liquors consumed in past centuries. These pieces typically date from the Georgian era and feature sturdy stems or plain bowls designed for everyday tavern or domestic use.

Were these glasses used for wine?

While many historic drinking glasses served multiple purposes, dedicated cordial and dram glasses have noticeably smaller bowls than standard wine glasses. The reduced size accommodated strong spirits, liqueurs and fortified wines. Larger variations on this page functioned as wine glasses or toasts, while narrow bowls remained reserved for potent drams.

What makes a folded foot important?

A folded foot provides extra rim strength on delicate drinking vessels by doubling the thickness of the glass at the base. This method protected vulnerable edges from chipping on hard wooden tables. Its presence often indicates an earlier manufacturing date, as the practice became less common in later centuries.

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Antique Cordial Glasses

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These antique cordial glasses are small drinking vessels designed for spirits and liqueurs, prized by collectors for their delicate stems and historical glassmaking techniques.