Introduction
Compact, robust, and full of character, firing glasses are among the most immediately recognisable forms in antique English glassware. Their distinctive heavy feet and short, sturdy stems set them apart from the elegant drinking glasses of the same period, and their association with lodge meetings, regimental dinners, and political gatherings gives them a social history as rich as their physical form. For collectors, they offer an accessible entry point into 18th-century glass — relatively affordable, highly displayable, and with a story worth telling.
What Is a Firing Glass?
A firing glass is a short drinking glass with an exceptionally thick, heavy foot — known as the firing foot — and typically a short, solid or lightly knopped stem. The bowl is usually of modest size, often funnel or ogee shaped, and the overall proportions of the glass are noticeably squat compared to a standard wine or ale glass of the period.
The name derives from their use: at the conclusion of a toast, members of a gathering would rap their glasses sharply and repeatedly on the table in unison, producing a sound likened to a volley of musket fire — hence firing. The heavy foot was an engineering necessity, designed to withstand repeated impact without shattering. A standard drinking glass subjected to the same treatment would not survive long.
Historical Context and Use
Firing glasses are most closely associated with Freemasonry, where the ritual of firing — rapping the glass on the lodge table in response to a toast — was a formal part of lodge ceremony. The practice was governed by precise rules: the number of raps, the rhythm, and the occasions on which firing was appropriate were all specified by lodge protocol. Masonic firing glasses sometimes bear engraved Masonic symbols — the square and compasses, the all-seeing eye, the letter G — making them doubly collectible as both glass and Masonic artefacts.
Beyond Freemasonry, firing glasses were used at regimental mess dinners, political clubs, and any gathering where communal toasting was a significant ritual. The Jacobite movement also made use of firing glasses — the act of firing a toast to the exiled Stuart king was both a declaration of loyalty and, given the treasonous nature of the toast, an act of some courage.
The practice of firing was most prevalent during the 18th century, and the majority of antique firing glasses date from approximately 1740 to 1800, coinciding with the height of English twist-stem glass production and the golden age of club and lodge culture.
Identifying a Firing Glass
The defining characteristic of a firing glass is the foot, and it is here that identification begins.
The Firing Foot
The foot of a firing glass is dramatically thicker and heavier than that of a standard drinking glass. Where a typical 18th-century wine glass might have a foot of 2–4mm thickness, a firing glass foot may be 8–12mm or more — a solid disc of glass designed to absorb repeated impact. When held, the weight difference is immediately apparent. When tapped gently with a fingernail, the thick foot produces a noticeably different, duller resonance than the ringing tone of a thinner foot.
Stem Forms
Firing glass stems are typically short — often no more than 2–3cm — and solid. The most common stem forms found on firing glasses include:
- Plain solid stem — the most common, a simple short column of glass.
- Air twist stem — firing glasses with air twist stems exist and are particularly desirable, combining the decorative appeal of the twist with the functional robustness of the firing foot.
- Opaque twist stem — less common than air twist on firing glasses but found.
- Knopped stem — a short stem with one or more knops; annulated and angular knops are both encountered.
- Faceted stem — later examples from the 1770s onwards may have short faceted stems.
Bowl Forms
The bowl of a firing glass is typically modest in size relative to the foot. Common bowl forms include the funnel, ogee, and bucket. The proportions of the glass — wide, heavy foot; short stem; relatively small bowl — give it a characteristic low centre of gravity that is instantly recognisable once seen.
Masonic Firing Glasses
Masonic firing glasses form a distinct and highly collectible subcategory. In addition to the standard firing glass form, they may bear engraved Masonic decoration including:
- The square and compasses — the primary symbol of Freemasonry.
- The all-seeing eye — representing the eye of God or the Great Architect.
- The letter G — standing for Geometry or God, depending on interpretation.
- The plumb, level, and trowel — working tools of the lodge with symbolic meanings.
- Lodge numbers or names, sometimes combined with a date.
- Masonic mottoes or phrases.
Masonic firing glasses with clear lodge identification and good provenance are particularly sought after by both glass collectors and Masonic memorabilia collectors, giving them a dual market that supports strong values.
Jacobite Firing Glasses
The combination of firing glass form and Jacobite engraving — rose, buds, star, oakleaf, and Latin mottoes — represents one of the most desirable intersections in antique glass collecting. These pieces were used in the most charged of political toasting rituals, and their survival is a testament to the care with which they were preserved by families who understood their significance. Jacobite firing glasses are rare, and examples with clear symbolic programmes and good provenance command significant premiums.
Condition and Value
Firing glasses were made to be used hard, and many have survived in remarkably good condition precisely because their robust construction protected them. However, collectors should examine:
- The foot rim — the most vulnerable point, subject to chipping from repeated impact on the table. A firing glass with a completely undamaged foot rim is genuinely unusual and commands a premium.
- The bowl rim — chips here are common and significantly affect value.
- Engraving condition — on decorated examples, the sharpness and completeness of the engraving is important.
- Crizzling — early examples may show signs of crizzling (internal glass deterioration); examine in good light.
Plain firing glasses in good condition are among the more accessible antique glass purchases, making them an excellent starting point for a new collection. Decorated examples — Masonic, Jacobite, or with other engraving — command considerably higher prices and reward careful research before purchase.
Displaying and Collecting Firing Glasses
Their compact size and robust construction make firing glasses ideal display pieces. A group of three or five, arranged by stem type or period, makes a striking and coherent collection. Their low centre of gravity means they are more stable on a shelf than taller glasses, and their visual weight — that emphatic heavy foot — gives them a presence disproportionate to their modest height.
For the collector building a broader collection of 18th-century English glass, a firing glass provides an essential point of contrast and context — a reminder that not all glass of the period was made for delicate sipping, and that the social rituals of the 18th century were as robust and characterful as the objects made to serve them.
The Wonder Room occasionally offers antique firing glasses and English drinking glasses of the 18th century. Browse our current collection or explore further guides in Collector's Insights.