These form one of the more varied groups, since fashion dictated rapid evolution of styles (Noel Hume 1968). In many ways this group represents a similarly complex picture to that of the 18th C balustroid group. They are not illustrated here because of the difficulty of selecting a representative example.
The types of drink for which these glasses were made are about the same as previous groups, although one glass has been found with a small bowl that may be for spirits. It has a short, slender stem and we are not yet sure that it belongs to this group.
Moulded decoration is common in this group, often wrythen. One glass is known with "God Bless King Wilijam" diamond-point engraved on the bowl. This almost certainly dates from 1688 or 1689.
Many features of these glasses are similar to Dutch glasses of the period. It is possible that these date to the period after William and Mary took the English throne in 1689, in a similar way to the introduction of German glass styles after the accession of King George I in 1714. However, some of these features represent a natural extension of the designs produced by Ravenscroft, so there is no certain basis for such an assumption. Archaeological evidence is not much help over such a short period, since evidence from Port Royal (more details) and Guildford suggests that glasses stayed in use for up to twenty years. One feature found on a number of glasses in this group (and other groups of the same period) may turn out to be significant.
For notes on the 17th Century glass classification used Click here. Unlike the classifications of some earlier stem forms, the basic form of the tapering stem does not include a strengthening merese at either the stem- to-bowl or the stem-to-foot junctions.
Classification not yet complete