Historic English Drinking Glasses
relates to a heart tried by fire; while the
palm tree growing on a rugged rock
seems to say, " I rise by difficulties."
Each is what old Quarles called a moral
emblem, the sentiment of all is unim-
peachable ; but the man for whom these
glasses were made had the brain of a
subtle humorist under his periwig, for
the mottoes not only refer to the pictured
symbols, but also bear a less obvious
relation to the glass, the wine, and the
drinker. The first may be taken as the
wine-lover's allusion to the sweets to be
imbibed from the glass; the second to
the action of raising the glass in a toast;
the third might surely be understood,
21 22 23 without undue straining, as referring
glasses with personal inscriptions to the condition of the drinker after
numerous libations, and be read, " I
objects escape destruction. The sweet little rise with difficulty!"
specimen figured as No. 22 was made for a grand- One word in conclusion. This article cannot
father of a friend of the writer, and bears his be taken as in any way exhaustive of the interest
cypher, associated with the figure of Mercury, and and charm of the historic drinking glasses of the
various emblems, together with the motto, " As eighteenth century, or as in any sense a complete
we travel through life may we live well on the resume of the subject. It simply illustrates some
road," a silent toast that few will quarrel with. of the specimens which have been acquired at
I have left to the last the three choicest pieces various times by the author, with a view to acting
in my cabinet, for they form a fitting pendant to as a pointer to would-be collectors, showing what
the example last described. Nos. 24, 25, and 26 they may expect if they embark on the gathering
are very early specimens, and may possibly belong of a very fascinating group of historic relics. But
circa 1730.
They are of
s ingularly
fine metal,
and the en-
graving is
excellent. 1
Each has a
motto asso-
ciated with
the emblem
in the panel;
to the repre-
sentation of
bees hover-
ing over
flowers ;s
appended
the line,
"Hence we
gather our
sweets"; "I
elevate what
T 24 2J 26
■t consume " glasses with mottoes
relates to a heart tried by fire; while the
palm tree growing on a rugged rock
seems to say, " I rise by difficulties."
Each is what old Quarles called a moral
emblem, the sentiment of all is unim-
peachable ; but the man for whom these
glasses were made had the brain of a
subtle humorist under his periwig, for
the mottoes not only refer to the pictured
symbols, but also bear a less obvious
relation to the glass, the wine, and the
drinker. The first may be taken as the
wine-lover's allusion to the sweets to be
imbibed from the glass; the second to
the action of raising the glass in a toast;
the third might surely be understood,
21 22 23 without undue straining, as referring
glasses with personal inscriptions to the condition of the drinker after
numerous libations, and be read, " I
objects escape destruction. The sweet little rise with difficulty!"
specimen figured as No. 22 was made for a grand- One word in conclusion. This article cannot
father of a friend of the writer, and bears his be taken as in any way exhaustive of the interest
cypher, associated with the figure of Mercury, and and charm of the historic drinking glasses of the
various emblems, together with the motto, " As eighteenth century, or as in any sense a complete
we travel through life may we live well on the resume of the subject. It simply illustrates some
road," a silent toast that few will quarrel with. of the specimens which have been acquired at
I have left to the last the three choicest pieces various times by the author, with a view to acting
in my cabinet, for they form a fitting pendant to as a pointer to would-be collectors, showing what
the example last described. Nos. 24, 25, and 26 they may expect if they embark on the gathering
are very early specimens, and may possibly belong of a very fascinating group of historic relics. But
circa 1730.
They are of
s ingularly
fine metal,
and the en-
graving is
excellent. 1
Each has a
motto asso-
ciated with
the emblem
in the panel;
to the repre-
sentation of
bees hover-
ing over
flowers ;s
appended
the line,
"Hence we
gather our
sweets"; "I
elevate what
T 24 2J 26
■t consume " glasses with mottoes