Can I drink from these glasses?

You can use these pieces for dining and entertaining, provided you handle them with care due to their age and historical value. Hand-blown vessels add a tactile quality to wine drinking that modern machine-made glass simply cannot replicate.

What is an air twist stem?

An air twist is a decorative element created by drawing out internal bubbles into spiral threads running down the length of the stem. This technique requires great skill from the glassblower to maintain uniform thickness throughout the spiral.

Why are some glasses heavy?

The inclusion of lead oxide in the batch increased the overall weight and brilliance of the metal, which was favoured by makers of the period. This substantial weight helped prevent tipping on uneven tavern or dining tables.