Introduction
Among the stem types of 18th-century English drinking glass, the Silesian stem stands apart — not for the delicacy of its construction, as with the twist stems, but for its bold, architectural, moulded form and its direct connection to one of the most significant political events in British history. Introduced around 1714 and produced for approximately three decades, Silesian stem glasses are immediately recognisable, historically fascinating, and — in their finer examples — objects of considerable distinction. For the collector interested in the intersection of decorative art and political history, they offer a uniquely rewarding field.
What Is a Silesian Stem?
The Silesian stem — also known as the moulded pedestal stem or shouldered stem — is a stem formed by moulding rather than free-blowing or drawing. It takes the form of a shouldered, tapering pedestal, typically four-, six-, or eight-sided, with a pronounced shoulder at the top that gives the stem its characteristic silhouette. The sides of the stem may be plain, ribbed, or decorated with moulded patterns, and the shoulder is often clearly defined and angular.
Unlike the baluster stem, which is formed by free manipulation of the molten glass, or the twist stem, which is produced by drawing and rotation, the Silesian stem is shaped by pressing the molten glass into a mould — a technique that produces the precise, repeatable geometric form characteristic of the type. The mould imparts both the overall shape and any surface decoration simultaneously.
Origins and the Hanoverian Connection
The Silesian stem takes its name from Silesia — the Central European region, now divided between Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic — which had a significant glassmaking tradition. The form is thought to have been introduced to England from the Continent, and its appearance in English glass production coincides closely with the accession of George I in 1714 — the first Hanoverian king, who came to the British throne following the Act of Settlement of 1701 and the death of Queen Anne.
The connection between the Silesian stem and the Hanoverian succession is more than coincidental. The earliest and finest Silesian stem glasses frequently bear moulded decoration on the shoulder that is explicitly political in character:
- Moulded royal cyphers — the initials GR (Georgius Rex) appear on the shoulders of some early Silesian stems, a direct reference to George I or George II.
- Moulded crowns — crown motifs on the shoulder reinforce the royal and loyalist associations of the form.
- Moulded portraits — some early examples bear a moulded portrait bust on the shoulder, thought to represent the new Hanoverian monarch.
- The motto ‘God Save King George’ — appears on some examples, leaving no ambiguity about the political allegiance the glass was intended to express.
In this context, the Silesian stem glass was not merely a fashionable drinking vessel — it was a statement of Hanoverian loyalty, produced and used at a time when that loyalty was politically significant and the Jacobite alternative was a live threat. The Silesian stem glass and the Jacobite glass are, in a sense, opposite sides of the same political coin.
Forms and Variations
Four-Sided Stems
The earliest Silesian stems, dating from approximately 1714 to 1725, are typically four-sided — a square-section pedestal with four flat faces and a pronounced shoulder. These early examples are the most architecturally bold and the most directly associated with the Hanoverian political moment. The four-sided form is the most sought-after by collectors and commands the highest premiums within the Silesian category.
Six-Sided Stems
From approximately 1720 onwards, six-sided Silesian stems become more common. The additional facets give the stem a more rounded, less angular appearance, and the political decoration of the shoulder becomes less explicit — reflecting perhaps a normalisation of Hanoverian rule and a reduced need for overt political statement.
Eight-Sided Stems
Eight-sided Silesian stems represent the later phase of production, from approximately 1725 to 1745. By this point the form has become more decorative than political, and the shoulder moulding is typically plain or lightly ribbed rather than bearing royal cyphers or mottoes.
Surface Decoration
Beyond the shoulder moulding, Silesian stems may have ribbed, fluted, or plain faces. Ribbed examples — with vertical ribs running the length of each face — are common and add visual interest. Plain-faced examples are simpler but allow the architectural form of the stem to speak for itself.
Bowl and Foot Forms
Silesian stems are found with a range of bowl forms consistent with their period of production. The most commonly encountered are:
- Funnel — the most common bowl form, found throughout the Silesian period.
- Round funnel — a simpler, more open form.
- Bell — found on some examples, particularly from the later part of the period.
- Waisted funnel — less common but found.
Feet on Silesian stem glasses follow the standard forms of the period:
- Domed and folded foot — found on earlier examples, consistent with the pre-Excise Act period.
- Conical folded foot — common throughout the period.
- Terraced foot — a stepped, tiered foot found specifically on some Silesian stem glasses, adding a further architectural element that complements the moulded pedestal stem. The terraced foot is a particularly desirable feature.
Engraved Silesian Stem Glasses
Engraved decoration on Silesian stem glasses is found but is less common than on twist-stem glasses. When present, it typically takes the form of simple border engraving, fruiting vine, or — on rarer examples — armorial decoration. The combination of a moulded Hanoverian shoulder and engraved royal or loyalist decoration is particularly significant and valuable.
It should be noted that Jacobite engraving on Silesian stem glasses is also found — a paradox that reflects the complex realities of the period, in which political allegiances were not always as clear-cut as the objects made to express them might suggest.
Dating Silesian Stem Glasses
The chronology of Silesian stem production provides a useful framework for dating:
- c.1714–1725 — four-sided stems with explicit Hanoverian moulding; domed and folded feet; funnel and thistle bowls.
- c.1720–1735 — six-sided stems; political decoration less explicit; folded feet still common.
- c.1725–1745 — eight-sided stems; decorative rather than political character; conical feet standard.
By approximately 1745, the Silesian stem had fallen from fashion, displaced by the air twist and the plain stem forms of the mid-18th century. Its relatively short production period — approximately three decades — contributes to the rarity of fine examples today.
What Affects Value
- Number of sides — four-sided stems are the most desirable and valuable; eight-sided the most common.
- Shoulder moulding — explicit Hanoverian decoration (GR cypher, crown, motto) adds very significant premiums.
- Foot type — terraced feet and domed folded feet add desirability.
- Bowl form — less common bowl forms add interest.
- Engraving — period engraving adds value; politically significant engraving adds the greatest premiums.
- Condition — chips and repairs significantly affect value; the moulded shoulder is particularly vulnerable to damage.
- Provenance — documented history adds confidence, particularly for politically significant examples.
Collecting Silesian Stem Glasses
Silesian stem glasses occupy a distinctive niche in the antique glass market — less numerous than twist-stem glasses, more architecturally bold than the balusters that preceded them, and with a political history that gives even plain examples a context and significance beyond their decorative qualities.
For the collector, the Silesian stem offers a clear collecting framework: the progression from four-sided to eight-sided, from explicit political decoration to plain ornament, from domed folded feet to simple conical feet, tells a coherent story about the normalisation of Hanoverian rule across three decades of English history. A collection that documents this progression — even modestly, with three or four well-chosen examples — is both visually satisfying and historically instructive.
The finest Silesian stem glasses — four-sided, with moulded GR cypher, terraced foot, and engraved bowl — are now rare and expensive. But plain six- and eight-sided examples in good condition remain accessible, and they carry the same history in a more modest form. For the collector who values the intersection of decorative art and political narrative, the Silesian stem glass is an object of enduring fascination.
The Wonder Room occasionally offers Silesian stem drinking glasses and early 18th-century English glass of historical significance. Browse our current collection or explore further guides in Collector's Insights.