When glass makers used molds with a subtle design on the inside we get optics in the final pieces. We see panel or fluted optics plus wavy and draped optics and some circular as in this dimple optic sherbet shown.
Elegant glass with optics sometimes rely solely on the optic for their style with no other design motif. Then it is the beauty and clarity of the crystal that makes the glass so lovely.
Fostoria’s Cabot sherbet with its thick rings on the stem shows the solid Colonial styling so popular in the 1940s. Until I researched for this post, I did not realize that Fostoria made the Cabot stem both plain and with the dimple optic shown.
The dimple optic turns what is a rather plain, stolid stem shape into a light, sparkling piece with the little dots seeming to dance in the glass. I found these at an estate sale and couldn’t resist getting them.
Apparently Fostoria made a reasonably full lineup of stems: the 10 ounce goblet, 4 ounce claret wine, 3 1/2 ounce cocktail, the 6 ounce sherbet, the small oyster cocktail, juice and the large iced tea. The cocktail is similar to the sherbet shown, except slightly shorter with a smaller bowl.
The stem line is #6025. Fostoria used the plain, non-optic stem for a few Early American-look etches, Plymouth, Sampler, and the Suffolk, Hawthorn, Georgian and Minuet cuttings. I have not seen these in person and rely on the Long and Seate Fostoria Stemware reference for this information.
I checked Replacements for the Cabot stems with the etches and cuttings and found photos of each. It’s interesting that none are expensive, most of the goblets were $10 or under (February 2024), and even the pricier pieces were less costly than Fostoria patterns that are more popular. (Supply and demand drives glass prices, with demand being the determining factor.)