Skip to content 
Some discoveries are so small, delicate, and mysterious that they immediately make you pause. Today, while tidying my grandmother’s old crockery cupboard, I stumbled upon something I couldn’t identify at first glance.
At first, I assumed they were plastic cocktail accessories 🍹—the kind you see in vintage bar sets—or maybe fragments of an old Christmas ornament 🎄. But as I picked them up, it became clear that these items were neither plastic nor modern. They were glass, light, fragile, and clearly crafted with care ❤️.
The pieces were thin, translucent, and colored in soft shades of orange, yellow, and green. Each piece had the same delicate shape, and most curiously, each bore a tiny marking: a “bun:g” etched or stamped on the side. Holding them in my hand, I couldn’t help but wonder: what exactly were these glass sticks made for?
Initial Impressions: A Beautiful Mystery
The first thing I noticed was the quality of craftsmanship. These were not mass-produced trinkets thrown together carelessly. The glass was smooth, the edges finely finished, and the colors were intentionally muted yet vibrant. Whoever made these clearly took their time.
The markings intrigued me most. “bun:g” could be a manufacturer’s stamp, an artisan’s signature, or even a coded identifier for some sort of set or kit. The uniformity of shape suggested that each piece was made for a specific, practical purpose, not just decoration.
Possible Explanations
After researching and consulting online vintage collectors, several possibilities emerged:
1. Vintage Glass Stirring Rods
Some glassmakers in the early to mid-20th century created tiny rods for mixing drinks in delicate glassware. Unlike the plastic or metal stirrers we see today, these glass rods were both functional and decorative.
- Pros: The smooth, colorful finish fits this explanation.
- Cons: My grandmother wasn’t known to host cocktail parties, so it might be unlikely—but it could have been a hand-me-down from a relative or friend.