After World War II, much of the world’s high volume glass and ceramic production shifted slowly—away from the “victor” countries (such as England and The United States) and towards the “vanquished” countries (Japan and West Germany). While the Allied countries did continue to make glassware and ceramics (especially at the high end), it was the Axis countries, desperate to get their people back to work in basic, high-volume manufacturing industry, who really started upping their production—and, after the war, labor was a lot cheaper in the countries which had just lost the war. As a result, Germany and Japan began to make and ship more and more moderately-priced “production” goods to the rest of the world (part of which was beginning to enjoy a post-war economic boom).
The glasses above are such an example. Made in West Germany in the 1960’s or 1970’s, this set of six amber glass cocktail “stems” would have (probably) graced a bar or bar cart in post-war America, France or England. They would have been a modest luxury for a middle class family—and a step into the stylish new age. Please come into the shop to see them in-person or click on the photo above to learn more about them.