TOASTMASTER'S GLASS

Toastmaster's glass, English, c. 1730; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London English glass about the size of an ordinary drinking glass but with only about one-quarter of its capacity; the glass creates the illusion of being full by means of a depression in its bowl, which in fact is almost solid. It owed its origin to the clubs of 18th-century England, where the toastmaster had to remain sober enough to carry out his office.