The Jacobites and Their Drinking Glasses

A belief in hereditary monarchy is, for the majority of the population in this country, something which is not questioned. A reading of history will, however, make us understand how the later Stuarts believed they had been cheated out of their inheritance. The fact that they were prepared to resort to armed rebellion in an attempt to regain what they believed was rightfully theirs is not difficult to appreciate. Supporters of their cause, the Jacobites, fell into two main camps, either those committed zealots who were prepared to risk all for the cause or the fireside club-goers who preferred to raise their richly engraved wine glasses to toast the “King over the water” rather than raise their swords. It is these same drinking glasses, with their stories to tell of those turbulent times, which are the subject of this book. Much has already been written about Jacobite history and the principal characters involved. This book examines and records the history of the glassware. As well as an outline of the historical background, the author discusses the secret Jacobite societies and the drinking glasses they used, allied to the whole subject of British glass in the 18th century.This Jacobite glassware is examined with the aid of the author’s own photographs detailing almost 500 individual items. Explanations are provided of the many intricate designs and the rich symbolism etched upon the surfaces of these elegant works. This book should be useful reading for any student of 18th or 19th century British glass or anyone interested in the history of the period.