subject: What You May Wish To Appreciate As Regards Choosing Glassware [print this page] Glassware is a popular choice for gifts of all types. Due to their fragile nature, most people have the need for additional decorative or useful glasses on a regular basis. No matter how much care is taken in washing these delicate objects, occasionally accidents happen. They are dropped, goblets get placed in a dishwasher improperly or a chip or crack appears for no particular reason.
The definition of the term applies to any object made of glass, but most people understand it to mean the part of a table setting used for drinking. There are three major categories of glasses. Most households have stemware, tumblers and footed containers.
Tumblers are flat-bottomed and usually have straight sides. They are often called by the name of a beverage that is typically served in the container. For example, an iced-tea container is tall and slim. A Collins style holds mixed drinks. A juice holder is smaller and typically wider than that used for tea. Tumblers also hold beer and these are named according to the drink size. A pint tumbler holds an Imperial pint of beer and a pony tumbler holds 140 ml of beer.
Footed glasses also have a flat base for stability but there is no stem and the flat base extends down into flat feet. These glasses can be quite decorative. There may be a gap between the base of the container and the table surface, thanks to the extension of the feet.
Stemware feature a flat base, usually disk shaped surmounted by a narrow stem or neck, with the bowl atop the stem. Some of the typical stemware pieces are a brandy snifter, cocktail holder, sherbet or ice cream bowl or one for consuming wine. The brandy snifter has a short stem, and wide bowl that is somewhat narrower at the top that an the base of the bowl. A cocktail container has a very wide bowl atop the stem.
Glasses are not known for their strength, but most are admired for their beauty. Some homes have special racks where stemware can be displayed. They are beautiful when holding drinks of various kinds. If you want imaginative place settings, try mixing and matching glasses types to do something out of the ordinary. You could use a wine style container to hold sherbet, for example.
Many brides register their choice of glassware so that those choosing wedding gifts know the preferences. Glasses of all types make great gifts for housewarmings. Just a small gift to let a friend know that you miss getting together for a shared drink of iced tea is a great way to get that habit restarted.
