Ale or champagne glass
Unknown Artist
1750–1800
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 7 1/2 × 3 × 3 in. (19.1 × 7.6 × 7.6 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward Holbrook Collection, Gift of Mrs. Edward Holbrook and John S. Holbrook, 1921
Accession Number
21.110.77
Art Historical Context
This elegant ale or champagne glass, crafted in Britain between 1750 and 1800, exemplifies the refined decorative arts of the Georgian era Standing at 7½ inches tall with a slender, symmetrical form (19.1 × 7.6 × 7.6 cm), it was designed for convivial drinking—whether savoring frothy ale in taverns or toasting with sparkling champagne at genteel gatherings. As an anonymous maker's work, it reflects the booming British glass industry, where factories like those in Stourbridge and Bristol produced affordable yet sophisticated tableware for the growing middle and upper classes. Glassmaking techn...