Comprehenisve glassware catalog?

[cdh]

Hi all...

I'm wondering if anybody knows of a source stocking a wide array of glassware. I've noticed that my preferred style of cocktail glass has fallen out of fashion with the big Pottery Barn/Crate and Barrel buyers and I hope that there is a source of a wider selection of styles of glassware out there.

A google and froogle search hasn't turned up anything online, but glassware is sufficiently difficult to accurately verbally describe in a standardized way that the failure is not surprising.

So, I'm turning to the collective wisdom of those assembled here for any pointers...

For what its worth, what I'm looking for is a glass with a conical bowl, without a tall thin stem, but rather a short, thick piece of glass (mine are like stretched spheres) that connects to the base. These glasses are shorter, and more stable than ordinary cocktail glasses, and I like them for that. Drinking out of an 8 inch tall cocktail glass is always a sure recipe for spilled drink, I find.

I'll post pictures if/when I get around to getting a picture into work where I have a speedy net connection.

[MatthewB]

I have 3 dozen of those glasses from the '30s. But you're not getting them!

On a different note, you should be able to find this type of info in an "antique buyer's guide." There should be dozens of such books out there.

Edit: An Amazon search in "Books" for "antique glassware" returned 515 results.

Edited July 10, 2003 by MatthewB (log)

[Dave the Cook]

They might not be as refined as you like, but you can't beat the selection at Libbey. The on-line catalog is amazing just for the number of shapes and sizes it shows -- 900, they claim.

Libbey Glass

[MatthewB]

Have you tried searching antique shops?

[cdh]

Have not tried hunting in antique shops, largely b/c I believe somebody out there has been making them recently... and keeping manufacturers in business is a good thing...

The ones I have got are Pottery Barn vintage 1997 or so, so they were being made 6 years ago...

[cdh]

Have just looked through the Libby catalog, and they have nothing in the style of glass that I'm looking for... Thanks for the pointer anyway!

[MatthewB]

I do know that Tanqueray included these glasses in a Christmas 2002 boxed gift set--I think w/ a fifth of the new "10" or whatever it is.

Perhaps you could find out who supplied the glasses to Tanqueray?

[Fat Guy]

The best tool I know of for conducting this kind of search is Bizrate at Lycos:

http://bizrate.lycos.com/

For barware specifically:

http://bizrate.lycos.com/buy/products__cat...--13040301.html

In terms of what you're talking about, can we improve the description somewhat? When you say conical, are you talking about martini- or margarita-glass shape -- more than 45% angle -- or are you talking about a narrower goblet-type shape? Are you looking for something totally clear and unadorned or are you looking for something sculptural? And do you want a glass that looks pretty much like crystal barware or do you want somthing chunkier?

[MatthewB]

Want me to take a picture of one of mine & upload it?

cdh, you can tell me if I'm thinking of what you're thinking.

[cdh]

Matthew-

thinking of the book and antique route, do you know if the book writers have standardized on a nomenclature for such glasswares? Is there a in-the-trade shorthand for the stubby cocktail glasses?

[MatthewB]

Matthew-

thinking of the book and antique route, do you know if the book writers have standardized on a nomenclature for such glasswares?  Is there a in-the-trade shorthand for the stubby cocktail glasses?

I'm wondering the exact same thing!

[cdh]

Matthew again- Do please snap a picture of yours and upload it, and I'll let you know if we're thinking the same thing.

FG- I'll give the bizrate site a try, but have had no luck with the google, froogle, and yahoo shopping routes... may be a nomenclature issue.

As to the greater specificity-- conical bowl, 45-50 degree incline. color and adornments secondary to shape, though the one remaining example I have is an amber glass with the stretched sphere section treated such that it appears iridescent.

Edited July 10, 2003 by cdh (log)

[MatthewB]

I'll be back.

[cdh]

Nope... nothing at momastore nor C&B is exactly what I'm looking for. (but I don't know exactly what you're talking about since the image links above aren't working for me now.)

The glasses I seek have a real base like the tall stemmed ones... just not the tall stems...

[eGullet Staff]

Folks, no posting of copyrighted images, please. Post a link instead. Thanks.

(Several posts deleted.)

eGullet.com Copyright & Images policy

[cdh]

Matthew --

Closer... those are closer to what I'm thinking... not quite it. Must take a picture and bring the camera into the office...

[DrinkBoy]

Not sure if there is anything that fits the bill, but here is a site that offers a pretty wild selection of cocktail glassware.

[MatthewB]

cdh,

Are you thinking of what I'd refer to as a "cocktail glass" as opposed to a "martini glass"?

I think my cocktail glasses hold 5 oz & have shorter & wider stems than my 8 oz martini glasses.

[cdh]

OK... what I'm hunting is something like the Optic style base with a standard martini glass sprouting from the ball.

[cdh]

I use the terms "cocktail glass" and "martini glass" interchangably... interesting that you make a distinction... I would say that I have 5oz cocktail glasses and 8 oz cocktail glasses...

[MatthewB]

I use the terms "cocktail glass" and "martini glass" interchangably... interesting that you make a distinction... I would say that I have 5oz cocktail glasses and 8 oz cocktail glasses...

I'm a tad weird.

So, you're looking for a short thick stem that has a ball between the stem & where the drink is held?

[cdh]

yup. total height not more than 4 or 5 inches, ideally.

[MatthewB]

That's clarified.

Now to find them.

[cdh]

Found a better solution to the picture issue-- look at my avatar... that is my glass... anybody know where more of the same can be found?

Edited July 11, 2003 by cdh (log)

[beans]

Chris:

Have you tried Replacements, Ltd. I've sent them a picture of pieces and they have researched a pattern name and occasionally the manufacturer with some flea market/antique show finds I've brought home. They are very pleasant to deal with, while some of their prices can still choke me.... but that's with my china service pieces, etc. and the stuff is plain expensive to begin with!

I often check eBay too, but that's really tiring sometimes.