Trick Glasses: Devious Drinking Devices

A fascinating and fun look at the comical, ingenious world of Renaissance trick glasses

At the end of the 16th century, ingeniously designed glasses created for various drinking games began to appear in Europe. The glasses stimulated a sense of togetherness, provided entertainment value and, of course, encouraged drunkenness. The tricks varied significantly: some were quite overt--unusually shaped glasses such as a boot, horn or gun--and others stealthy, such as normal-looking glasses that splashed wine all over the drinker. Still others emitted strange noises when drunk from. It is precisely their playful character that rendered them technical tours de force, the pinnacle of what glassblowers could fashion at the time. The glasses showcased the skills of their makers along with the wealth and standing of their owners.
For this amusing, delightful and impressive volume, internationally renowned glass expert Kitty Laméris and glass artist Marc Barreda conducted large-scale research into the use and history of trick glasses.