Introduction
If the air twist stem represents the ingenuity of the English glassmaker in capturing and manipulating air, the opaque twist stem takes that ingenuity a step further — replacing invisible columns of air with rods of brilliant white or richly coloured enamel glass, twisted into patterns of extraordinary variety and precision. Produced from approximately 1745 and dominant from the mid-1750s to around 1780, opaque twist glasses are among the most decorative and collectible objects in 18th-century English glass. Their crisp, graphic stems — white against clear glass, or colour against white — have a visual clarity that makes them immediately appealing, and the range of configurations available to the collector is vast.
How Opaque Twists Were Made
The production of an opaque twist stem begins with the preparation of enamel glass rods — lengths of opaque white (or coloured) glass produced separately and cut to the required length. These rods are arranged in a precise pattern within a cylindrical mould or on a flat surface, then encased in a gather of clear molten glass. The resulting composite gather — clear glass containing the arranged enamel rods — is then drawn out and rotated in exactly the same manner as an air twist stem, elongating and twisting the enamel rods into spirals within the clear glass matrix.
The precision required in arranging the rods before encasing them is considerable — the final twist configuration is determined entirely by the initial arrangement, and any irregularity in placement will be visible in the finished stem. The finest opaque twist stems, with their perfectly regular, evenly spaced spirals, represent a high point of 18th-century glassmaking craft.
Opaque white glass — made opaque by the addition of tin oxide or arsenic — had been produced in England since the early 18th century, but its use in twist stems appears to have developed in parallel with, and partly in response to, the air twist. The two techniques were produced concurrently from the late 1740s, and mixed twist stems — combining air and opaque elements — were also produced during this period of overlap.
Dating Opaque Twist Glasses
Opaque twist stems were produced from approximately 1745 to 1780, with the peak of production falling in the 1755–1775 period. They succeeded the air twist as the dominant decorative stem form and were themselves displaced by the faceted stem as the fashion for cut glass grew in the later 18th century.
The 1745 Excise Act, which taxed glass by weight, had a significant influence on opaque twist production. Since the enamel rods added weight to the stem, glassmakers working within the constraints of the tax had an incentive to use finer, lighter rods — which may partly account for the extraordinary delicacy of some opaque twist configurations. Conversely, the most elaborate double series twists, with their multiple rods, represent a deliberate investment in quality and decoration that the market was willing to support despite the tax implications.
White Opaque Twist Configurations
The vocabulary of opaque twist configurations is even more extensive than that of air twists, since the enamel rods can be arranged in a far greater variety of patterns than air pockets. Twists are again categorised as single series or double series.
Single Series White Opaque Twists
- Single thread — a single enamel rod twisted into a simple spiral. The most basic configuration.
- Multiple threads — several fine enamel threads twisted together in a single spiral band.
- Corkscrew — a bold, tightly wound spiral of one or more enamel rods.
- Gauze — many very fine enamel threads twisted together to produce a lace-like, almost textile appearance. One of the most delicate and admired configurations.
- Cable — a thick, rope-like twist of multiple enamel rods.
- Spiral band — a flat, ribbon-like enamel element twisted along the stem.
- Lace twist — a particularly fine gauze-like configuration with an almost woven appearance.
Double Series White Opaque Twists
Double series opaque twists are the most commonly encountered configuration overall, and the most varied. A central element — typically a multi-ply spiral, cable, or gauze — is surrounded by an outer element, typically a corkscrew or spiral thread. Common combinations include:
- Central multi-ply spiral with outer corkscrew — the most frequently found double series configuration.
- Central gauze with outer spiral threads.
- Central cable with outer corkscrew.
- Central lace twist with outer spiral band.
- Two independent corkscrews running in parallel.
The number of possible double series combinations runs to several dozen, and dedicated collectors have assembled collections specifically aimed at documenting the full range.
Colour Twist Stems
Among the most prized objects in English antique glass, colour twist stems incorporate rods of coloured enamel glass — blue, green, red, pink, yellow, or combinations thereof — alongside or instead of white enamel rods. The effect is striking: a stem in which vivid colour spirals through clear glass, sometimes combined with white enamel for additional contrast.
Types of Colour Twist
- Colour and white — the most common colour twist configuration, combining one or more coloured rods with white enamel rods within a double series arrangement. Blue and white is the most frequently encountered combination; green and white, and red and white, are also found.
- Colour only — a stem containing coloured rods without white enamel. Rarer than colour and white combinations.
- Multiple colours — stems incorporating two or more different colours are among the rarest and most valuable opaque twist configurations.
Colour Twist Rarity and Value
Colour twists are considerably rarer than white opaque twists, reflecting both the greater difficulty and cost of producing coloured enamel glass and the smaller number of examples that have survived. Blue is the most commonly found colour; red (produced from gold chloride) is among the rarest and most expensive. A fine colour twist glass in good condition — particularly one with an unusual colour combination or a complex double series configuration — represents one of the peaks of the opaque twist collecting field and commands prices to match.
Mixed Twist Stems
A mixed twist stem combines air twist and opaque twist elements within a single stem — for example, a central opaque white gauze surrounded by outer air twist spirals, or a central air twist cable with outer opaque threads. Mixed twists were produced during the period of overlap between air and opaque twist production, approximately 1745–1760, and are relatively uncommon. They are considered particularly desirable by collectors, combining the visual qualities of both techniques in a single object.
Bowl and Foot Forms
Opaque twist stems are found with the full range of mid-18th century bowl forms — round funnel, ogee, double ogee, bell, bucket, and pan-topped bowls are all encountered. The ogee and round funnel are the most common. Feet are typically conical, and folded feet are less common than on earlier glasses, consistent with the post-1745 Excise Act period of production.
Engraved Opaque Twist Glasses
As with air twist glasses, opaque twist stems are found both plain and with engraved bowl decoration. Engraved examples command significant premiums. Jacobite engraving on opaque twist glasses is found but is less common than on air twist examples, reflecting the slightly later production period of opaque twists — by the time opaque twists were dominant, the Jacobite cause had been effectively extinguished at Culloden (1746). Floral, fruiting vine, and armorial engraving are all found on opaque twist glasses.
What Affects Value
- Colour — colour twists command the highest premiums; within colour twists, rarer colours (red, multiple colours) are most valuable.
- Twist complexity — double series twists are more desirable than single series; unusual or rare configurations attract collector premiums.
- Engraving — period engraving adds value; Jacobite engraving adds the greatest premium.
- Bowl form — less common bowl forms are more desirable.
- Condition — chips to rim or foot significantly reduce value.
- Mixed twist — mixed air and opaque twist stems command premiums over pure opaque twists.
Collecting Opaque Twist Glasses
Opaque twist glasses offer one of the broadest and most rewarding collecting fields in 18th-century English glass. The sheer variety of configurations means that a focused collection — documenting the range of single and double series white twists, with colour twists as the pinnacle — can be built over many years without exhausting the possibilities.
For the new collector, plain white opaque twist glasses in good condition provide an accessible and visually satisfying starting point. As knowledge and confidence develop, the pursuit of finer double series configurations, engraved examples, and ultimately colour twists provides a clear and rewarding collecting trajectory.
The opaque twist stem, held up to the light and rotated slowly, reveals its construction with a clarity that the air twist — for all its beauty — cannot quite match. The white enamel spirals are unambiguous, precise, and endlessly varied. They are a testament to the skill of the 18th-century English glassmaker, and to the enduring appeal of objects made with genuine craft and intention.
The Wonder Room occasionally offers fine opaque twist stem drinking glasses of the 18th century, including colour twist examples when available. Browse our current collection or explore further guides in Collector's Insights.