Glass Riolling Pins

It is believed glass rolling pins were introduced in 1870's or 1880's,

The Etruscans are thought to be the first people to have used rolling pins for food preparation. In more modern kitchens, rolling pins can be found made of wood, ceramic, marble, stainless steel, copper, aluminum and silicone but seldom does a glass rolling pin turn up in a drawer.

As for the hole-in-one end of this rolling pin, it was there to allow cold water to be placed inside the barrel. The end was sealed with a cork. This cold water facilitated the dough-rolling process by keeping such items as puff pastry cool, and the water gave the rolling pin more heft for pushing and rolling the dough.

In the 19th century, rolling pins could be quite elaborate. Some were painted with images of ships and messages such as "A Present From a Friend" or "A Present to My Mother From Her Son." Glass examples were spattered with several types and colors or came in solid colors that ran the gamut from clear colourless to red, blue, green and white.