Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead © 2013. All rights reserved.
Website designed and maintained
by www.CheckBoxDesigns.com
The Art & Wine Festival is successfully staged each year with the generous cooperation
of the Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA) and the Tavern Bay Beach Club
ALA rules prohibit pets on Tavern Bay Beach Club property between May 15 and September
15 of each year, including during the Art & Wine Festival
As wine gained status throughout history, the glass has evolved from a mere serving
piece into an art form for the enjoyment of wine, itself becoming a part of the heightened
status of wine culture. Not only did glassware provide the craftsman with an opportunity
to display fashionable techniques and skills, but it gave the owner a means of reflecting
their own interior design tastes.
Though numerous forms of wine cups had existed since the classical period, the merchants
of Venice set new standards of elegance in wine drinking by combining the skills
of the glassblower and designer. The clarity and transparency of their cristallo
glass allowed the color of the wine to be fully appreciated. Designers went through
various stages of design - glasses with bold and massive knobs, literally modeled
after the furniture of the time.
In the mid 1700s, glass-cutting became preferred as a design method, reflecting the
geometrical shapes and designs then in vogue. It wasn’t until the 18th century that
the dining room became a clearly defined and separate space within the house and
formal dining customs were finally established. This creation of dining rituals and
service led to the requirement of matching sets of glasses in the 17th century.
Today, most wine glassware has evolved to the clean, almost sensual shape that we
see on most dining tables. Once wine is released from the dark green or black glass
of the bottle, part of the culture and enjoyment of wine is enjoying the wine’s color.
Thus the simple shapes that we see today - a shape that very simply displays the
beauty of the liquid that until moments before had remained hidden for many months,
perhaps even many years. Please come and raise a simple glass in a simple toast to
the Rotary Art and Wine Festival of 2013.
Hand-blown Crystal Wine Glasses
Click the picture to watch them being made right here in the USA, at the West Virginia Master Piece Crystal Wine Glass Manufacturing company.
Our Art & Wine glasses won’t be fine crystal, but watching the process of creation is interesting and part of the fun of all things Art & Wine!
ENJOY!
