Introduction
Among the most historically charged objects in English glass collecting, Jacobite glasses occupy a unique place — part drinking vessel, part political artefact, part secret code. Produced for supporters of the exiled Stuart dynasty during the late 17th and 18th centuries, these glasses were used in clandestine toasting rituals and engraved with a vocabulary of symbols whose meanings were understood only by the initiated. For the collector today, they represent a rare intersection of fine craftsmanship, political history, and the romance of a lost cause.
The Historical Background
The Jacobite movement took its name from Jacobus, the Latin form of James — specifically James II of England (James VII of Scotland), who was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and replaced by William III and Mary II. James and his descendants — his son James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) and his grandson Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender) — maintained a claim to the British throne from exile, first in France and later in Rome.
Support for the Stuart cause persisted in England, Scotland, and Ireland throughout the first half of the 18th century, reaching its peak with the Jacobite rising of 1745, when Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland and advanced as far south as Derby before retreating. The defeat at Culloden in April 1746 effectively ended the military Jacobite cause, though sentiment and symbolism persisted for decades afterwards.
Toasting the health of the exiled king was an act of treason. Jacobite supporters therefore developed a coded visual language — engraved onto their drinking glasses — that allowed them to express loyalty while maintaining plausible deniability.
Jacobite Symbols and Their Meanings
The Rose
The most common Jacobite symbol, representing the English crown as it rightfully belonged to the Stuart claimant. A rose with two buds represents the two Stuart pretenders; a single bud may refer to one claimant. Almost always shown as a six-petalled bloom on a stem with leaves.
The Oakleaf
A reference to the Royal Oak at Boscobel, in which Charles II hid after Worcester in 1651. A symbol of Stuart loyalty and survival.
The Star
Representing hope and destiny — the star guiding the Stuarts back to their throne. Often six- or eight-pointed, appearing above or beside the rose.
The Butterfly
Representing the soul, resurrection, or transformation — the hoped-for return of the Stuart dynasty.
The Bee
Industry, loyalty, and community — the faithful Jacobite supporters working quietly toward restoration.
The Carnation
Love and devoted loyalty to the Stuart cause.
The Forget-Me-Not
Remembrance — a reminder not to forget the exiled king.
The Jay
A visual rebus for James — the jay bird standing in for the king's name.
The Stricken Oak with New Growth
The Stuart dynasty cut down but not destroyed, with a new heir rising to restore it.
Portrait Engravings
Some glasses bear a portrait of Charles Edward Stuart, sometimes partially disguised within a decorative composition. Portrait glasses are among the rarest and most valuable Jacobite pieces.
Latin Mottoes
- Fiat — "Let it be done"
- Redeat — "May he return"
- Revirescit — "It flourishes again"
- Audentior Ibo — "I shall go more boldly"
- Turno Tempus Erit — "The time will come" — a Virgilian reference to the rightful claimant's triumph.
Glass Forms and Dating
Jacobite engraving appears on a range of Georgian glass forms dating from approximately 1720 to 1770, coinciding with the period of greatest Jacobite political activity. Air twist and opaque twist stems are both found with Jacobite engraving, as are plain-stemmed and baluster-stemmed glasses from the earlier part of the period. Engraving is almost always executed by wheel engraving, producing crisp, confident lines.
Authentication: What Collectors Should Know
The Jacobite glass field is one of the most heavily faked and enhanced areas of antique glass collecting. The addition of Jacobite engraving to plain antique glasses is the primary risk.
Key indicators to examine
- Wear consistency — genuine engraving shows the same patina and surface wear as the rest of the glass. Later engraving appears fresher and brighter, particularly under raking light or magnification.
- Engraving style — period wheel engraving has characteristic fluency and depth. Later additions are often shallower or stylistically inconsistent.
- Provenance — a documented ownership history significantly increases confidence. Glasses appearing without provenance warrant closer scrutiny.
- Symbolic consistency — genuine glasses use the established vocabulary in coherent combinations. Unusual or illogical combinations may indicate later invention.
- Expert opinion — for significant purchases, a specialist opinion is strongly advisable.
Reproductions and Commemorative Pieces
Later commemorative glasses produced in the 19th and early 20th centuries for the collector market are sometimes misrepresented as period pieces. They can generally be identified by glass quality, stem type, and engraving style inconsistent with 18th-century Georgian glass production.
Building a Jacobite Glass Collection
- Start with well-documented examples from reputable sources with clear provenance.
- Learn the symbolic vocabulary thoroughly before buying.
- The rose-and-bud motif is the most common starting point and most widely available.
- Portrait glasses and those with Latin mottoes are considerably rarer and command corresponding premiums.
- Condition matters but should not necessarily deter — a chipped glass with impeccable provenance may be preferable to a perfect glass of uncertain history.
The Wonder Room occasionally offers antique drinking glasses of historical significance. Browse our current collection or explore further guides in Collector's Insights.