New exhibition at museum raises a glass to drinking history

Stourbridge Glass Museum is inviting visitors to toast centuries of craftsmanship and social history with its new exhibition.

'Raise a Glass' explores the fascinating evolution of drinking vessels, revealing how glassware has shaped the way we drink, socialise and celebrate.

From simple tumblers to elegant champagne flutes, the displays trace changing tastes, technologies and traditions across hundreds of years.

Visitors can discover how the humble tumbler transformed domestic life after the introduction of pressed glass in the 19th century, making decorative glassware affordable for the first time.

The exhibition also features robust 17th- and 18th-century rummers designed for lively toasts, the glamorous rise of the champagne coupe, and the science behind today’s tulip-shaped champagne glasses.

Beer drinkers will recognise the iconic ‘nonic’ pint glass, a familiar sight in British pubs, while cocktail lovers can enjoy playful designs from the 1920s and 1930s. Wine glasses also take centre stage, from delicate Venetian Cristallo to the refined etiquette of Georgian and Victorian dining.

Alongside historic and contemporary pieces, Raise a Glass explores the anatomy of glassware - bowl, stem and foot - and how form and function have evolved over time.

Whether you’re a glass enthusiast, a history lover, or simply curious about the objects that accompany life’s celebrations, Raise a Glass offers a fresh look at the stories behind everyday drinking vessels.

From January to March, Stourbridge Glass Museum is open from Thursday to Saturday between 10:30am and 4:30pm.