Antique hunting with Roo Irvine

In the world of antiques and antiquities fewer materials have a history as rich as glass. Although it dates back more than 6,000 years it is but a moment in comparison to fossils and gemstones from 4 billion years ago.

However, within its seemingly short span of existence a complex and fascinating history has been cemented. From decadent and vibrant Venetian glass to relatively plain English crystal each development has its own distinctive attributes.

In terms of Scottish glass, Caithness, Monart and Strathearn quickly spring to mind as favourites among collectors but the one that truly beats at the heart of Scottish history is Jacobean glass. Perhaps the most beautiful, artistic and delicate glass ever made in these islands. However, be warned, it is a sector of the antique world that is rife with reproductions and fakes due the ever increasing demand caused by the rarity, sentimentality and value of the real thing.

Georgian glass in itself is highly collectible but Jacobean glass would be the pinnacle of any collection, if you are lucky enough to find any pieces not already in the hands of a private collector.

The Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745 fuelled the creation of Jacobean glass, especially drinking vessels designed and engraved to show loyalty to James Francis Edward Stuart and his dashing son, Charles Edward Stuart, aka Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Jacobean glass was produced at a time when drinking glasses were becoming lighter and more delicate due to the Excise Tax of 1746 which imposed tariffs on glass by weight. This ties in with the incredible elegance of the pieces but what really sets them apart is the characteristic engraving.

Symbolism has been used since the beginning of time to pledge allegiance to various causes and passions. Jacobean glass is a perfect example of coded meaning and one of the rare occasions in history when just owning or drinking from such a vessel could lead to imprisonment or even execution.

As James II was exiled to France toasts were held by raising a glass above a bowl or glass of water to signify loyalty to the ‘King over the water’, rather than the Hanoverian ‘usurper’ in London. Often the glass itself was delicately engraved using small copper wheels by expert wheel engravers who used symbols and motifs derived from nature to secretly portray support for the Jacobean cause.

The most commonly found motif is that of the white heraldic rose with six petals representing the exiled King James. If a rosebud is to the right of the rose it also represents Bonnie Prince Charlie. A rosebud to the left signifies his younger brother, Prince Henry Benedict Stuart.

Other symbols used to represent the Stuart’s claim to the throne were the Thistle, the Prince of Wales feathers, and the acorn and oak leaf.

A glass with a sunflower etched on it was a symbol of loyalty to King James as the head of a sunflower follows the sun. Similarly a butterfly indicated hope for the Stuarts’ rebirth and return from exile while a simple bundle of sticks represented strength in numbers. These are all motifs that we see regularly on antique furniture, art and tapestries. But, within the confines of Jacobean glass these are not merely naturalistic shapes borne out of decorative impulses.

To be found with a glass engraved with these elements was an act of treason and could have deadly consequences for the owner. Although far more subtle and easier hidden than other larger items it was still a massive risk to harbour any of these glasses within the privacy of a home.

After the battle of Culloden in 1746, when great efforts were made to stamp out Highland culture and traditions, allegiance had to be be shown in the most subtle of ways. Mottos, such as ‘Redeat’ (may he return) and ‘Audentior ibo’ (I shall go more boldly) were often engraved into the glass as sometimes was the handsome face of Bonnie Prince Charlie itself.

The rarest and most sought-after Jacobean pieces are the ‘Amen glasses’. Less than 40 of these are known to still be in existence - one sold for £43,000 at auction in Shropshire in 2012.

Amen glasses were passed around in secret societies and were engraved with a crown and at least one verse from the Jacobite anthem, concluding with the word ‘Amen’. Rare examples have three or four verses engraved and analysis has shown these were done by the same hand - a very risky job in itself.

There is no denying the exquisite beauty and immense skill involved in these works of art many of which are believed to have been the work of Scottish line-engraver Sir Robert Strange from Edinburgh. He joined the Jacobite army in 1745 but was forced to flee to France with his wife Isabella Lumisden following the defeat at Culloden. After several years in exile he managed to return in 1750 and is believed to have eventually settled in England, where he carved out a successful career as an artist but never forgot his Jacobite sympathies.