Dwarf ale glass

A rare type is the flammiform (flame-like gadrooning) dwarf ale glass, which was popular at the turn of the 18th century.

[2][7] Determining the age dwarf ale glasses is challenging due to them being manufactured throughout the 18th century and into the 19th in high numbers.

[12][13] Dwarf ale glasses with gadrooned wrythening, including those with a flammiform fringe, are often dated as early to mid-18th century.

This probably refers to wrythen ale glasses, which are still commonly found in antique shops and online auction sites.

Strong ales of this period were fermented up to 11% ABV and would have been similar to modern day barley wines.

[19] Indeed, one can gauge the popularity of dwarf ale glasses by the high number and variety that have been preserved to the present day.

[20] Unfortunately, no contemporaneous drawings, paintings or engravings unambiguously demonstrate their use in society (see the works of William Hogarth which show scenes of alcohol consumption during the 18th century).

However, written accounts from the late 17th century exist which allude to the small capacity of 'the Glasses as we drinke Somerset ale out of'.