British glass came of age in the late 17th century when George Ravenscroft was given the patent to make glass of lead. Although there were rare high points during the Renaissance when Venetians arrived in London, until the 1680s English glass was largely provincial in character. The manufacture of ‘lead crystal’ glass enabled the glass makers of London, Bristol, Newcastle and the Midlands in particular to compete with the European industry. However, the evolving styles of English drinking glasses and tableware throughout the ensuing decades reflected more of the influences of architecture, furniture, metalwork and social manners than the grand fashions of the European courts. 

This lecture exemplifies some of the finest products of the English craft from 1580 to 1900. The glass illustrated reveals the different changing fashions and new and old techniques used. Glass made for drinking toasts, for commemorating political and social events, for the sideboard or as treasonable gifts, are all displayed. Although glassmakers are largely anonymous individuals, decorators of glass have used the material to produce some of the finest decorative artwork, their masterpieces remaining as monuments to their work.

As an intimate object used by the very wealthy and powerful in England, with the story that each piece could tell, a wine glass can be regarded as a handle on history, a history of England brought to life in this colourful presentation.