Describe a glass before giving it a story

An old-looking glass does not come with a reliable date attached. Before calling it a café antique or assigning it a national tradition, describe its observable features: height, bowl shape, stem, foot, markings and condition.

Observation

A heavy foot and a faceted bowl.

Interpretation

The weight may make the glass feel steady.

Claim requiring evidence

The glass was made in a particular workshop in a particular year.

Keeping these statements apart is the foundation of a useful object note. A seller’s description can be recorded as a claim, but it does not become proven provenance merely because it sounds precise. Photograph any maker’s mark separately and retain the original sales information if you own the object.

When writing for readers, explain why the detail matters. A thick rim may change the visual balance of a drawing; a mould line may help explain manufacturing. Neither observation needs an invented tale about a famous former owner. For unfamiliar antique vessels, avoid assuming suitability for food or drink from appearance alone.

End the note with the question you still cannot answer. Honest uncertainty makes room for better evidence. It also keeps a small collection interesting: the object remains something to investigate, rather than a prop for a story already decided.