In 1777 a further government act imposed a duty on coloured enamel glass, which rendered opaque-twists too expensive to produce. Hence the arrival of the faceted stem, whereby glass was cut away in decorative patterns - the perfect solution, as it was not only attractive but also weighed less.
Facet-stem glasses have three main patterns of faceting: diamond, hexagonal and flat-cut, popular from about 1780 to 1810. You will occasionally find a glass where the foot has been faceted, but very rarely the bowl. At one time the faceted designs were less popular than air and opaque-twists, but their appeal is growing with collectors and prices are on the increase.
