Compotes, Comports, & Console Bowls...
If you're anything like I was, your knowledge of the various different types and sizes of vintage glassware is probably limited. I had no idea there was a different piece for nearly every type of beverage one could enjoy with a meal. I figured there had to be a better way to differentiate them in my listings than calling them tall glass or small glass, so I headed to Google to figure it out. And now I'll share with you what I found so that you'll be shopping for console bowls and goblets in no time.
To begin to set your table, the most basic drinking glass you would need would be the goblets, which will be footed and have a stem. The water goblet is generally slightly larger than the wine goblet. An iced tea goblet will be footed, but generally not have a stem. You may also see a footed juice glass, which looks like a miniature version of the iced tea goblet. There are also many different types of stemware used for adult beverages, such as champagne flutes, claret wines, cordial glasses, and liquor cocktails. Also used for the various adult beverages, are several types of flat drinking glasses such as the old fashioned glass, the double old fashioned glass, and the highball glass. Tumblers are another type of flat drinking glass, however their intended purpose is for general use.
Moving on from the glasses, we have the beverage serving containers such as pitchers, which are used for serving water, tea, or any other cold or iced beverage, decanters, which are used for serving and storing wine or liquor, and creamers, which are used for serving cream to individual cups of coffee or tea. The coffee or tea of course would be served in a cup and saucer.
You may be already be aware of the purposes of having different sizes plates, such as the largest plate in the set is usually the dinner plate, the next size down is known as the luncheon plate, next sometimes you have the salad or dessert plate followed by the bread and butter plate, and finally the saucer to be used with a tea or coffee cup. Vintage glassware snack plate and cup sets could also usually be purchased in most patterns. A single, larger, usually round, plate is called the chop plate.
To keep in the tradition of making things as difficult as possible, there are also several different sizes of bowls, each with a different intended purpose. The most basic of bowls was the cereal bowl. The fruits/dessert bowl is usually the smallest in diameter and more shallow than the cereal bowl. Also included in many set is the soup bowl, which usually has a diameter similar to the cereal bowl, but is a more shallow bowl. The largest, single bowl is used for serving and is called the vegetable bowl.
When browsing for your vintage glassware pieces, you may have come across a compote, which is a footed bowl used to serve fruits, nuts, or sweets that may or may not come with a lid, or a canister, which is cylindrical container with a lid for storing dry ingredients. Cheese and Butter Dishes could come with either a dome cover or a rectangular one. A comport dish is similar to a compote dish, but is usually less bowl shaped and more flat like that of a bon bon tray, which is a mostly flat dish without a stem used for serving desserts or other sweets. Tiny, round or oval bowl-like dishes are called salt dips and were used for serving salt to individual guests. Console Bowls could be used as a centerpiece for your table and are meant to be filled with fresh fruits or flowers.
Of course this is only a short overview of the many different shapes, sizes, and styles of vintage glassware and there are many more I have not included, but these are the basics. Often, one could even acquire candlestick holders, salt and pepper shakers, bud vases, ashtrays, and candy dishes to match their favorite glassware patterns. Each of these pieces would also come in a variety of shapes and sizes by specialized names as well naturally.
I hope this will help you on your next vintage treasure hunt! Until next time...
Comments
Post a Comment