subject: Glassware: For Practical And Decorative Purposes [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 have a straight side that goes all the way down to the flat base. The names of common tumblers are usually related to the drink that is most often served in the glass. A container that holds iced-tea is tall and slim. It may flare slightly from base to top. A juice holder is shorter and wider but still with straight sides. Beer tumblers might be named by the amount of the amount of beer served in the glass. Footed glasses have a flat base and a bowl, but there is no stem on this type and they can be more ornate. They may be whimsical. The feet can appear to be added on or they may "grow" from the bowl's base. Punch glasses might be shaped this way. A footed example designed in this manner may not have the bottom of the bowl touching the table or coaster. The feet are flat bottomed, but raise the base above the surface of the table. Stemware is the other, perhaps most common, type of glasses found in most homes. These glasses might be called goblets, brandy snifters, cocktail glasses, sherbet glasses or wine glasses. The shape consists of a bowl, a narrow neck or stem and a flat base. Although glasses will never be noted for strength, they are beautiful whether they are holding drinks or sitting on a pantry shelf. A variety of types will make your dinner settings interesting. It's fun to match glasses to a particular use, or come up with new options of your own. Glassware is a common wedding gift. A bride-to-be is able to use a bridal registry to pick favorite patterns and identify needs. Glasses offered as a small memento associated with a housewarming helps a new neighbor feel welcome. If you've lost touch with another neighbor, bring a set of juice glasses and a pitcher of juice and get together again.
