The Proliferation of Glasses

I've been pondering the many different kinds of glasses that are deemed necessary by some for drinking different kinds of beverages. How did this happen? Why does one simple, functional glass or mug not suffice? The same question applies to the absurd variety of types of flatware.

Then I realized what must be the answer.

Some time ago — two hundred years, perhaps — glass manufacturers met in secret somewhere, probably London or Paris, to discuss a big problem. Families, even the wealthiest ones, owned just enough glasses, mugs, knives, etc. to supply one of each to each person. Even the wealthy saw no need for more. So the vitrine industrialists’ sales could only grow as fast as the population grew. That wasn't enough to satisfy their greed.

Some genius came up with the answer. Let us, he said, persuade people that they need different types of glasses for different types of wine, different types of beer, different spirits, etc. We will make the upper classes think that their knowledge of these differences and their possession of the many types of glasses set them even further apart from and above the hoi polloi, and that moreover they can demonstrate their superiority to their fellow aristocrats by out-glassing them. Our earnings will be multiplied many times!The sky’s the limit!

And so it was done. Cutlery manufacturers of course saw the virtue in this approach and followed suit. (Or possibly it was the other way around. I’m not sure.)

Very soon, a cottage industry developed of self-proclaimed experts who made good money teaching people which glasses, knives, forks, spoons, etc. to use for different beverages and foods — and even the right way to set the table with this new hodge podge of items.

Perhaps if I were to look up the history of glassware and flatware, I’d find a completely different explanation, but I’m not going to do that because I much prefer mine.