The glass has an ogée bowl engraved with a six-petalled heraldic rose and bud and a blackbird in flight; on an opaque-twist stem.
The opaque twist stem was developed from about 1745 as an extension of the airtwist process and was achieved by setting an arrangement of white, and sometimes coloured enamel in a mould, which was then skilfully enveloped within a blob of hot glass attached to the bowl, before the stem was drawn and twisted.
The natural refractive quality of lead crystal was greatly enhanced by this process, particularly noticeable when glasses were raised to offer a toast by candlelight.
Loyal Jacobite toasts to ‘the King across the water’ would be drunk in glasses engraved like this one.
The rose and bud, represented what to Jacobites were the true King: James, the Old Pretender and his heir, Charles, the Young Pretender, the son and grandson of the exiled James II (1633-1701).
