Vessels of this type are called comet-beakers because they are decorated with several blue or colorless applied decorations somewhat resembling comets as depicted on old prints. The association of these decorations with Halley's comet appears to be a late 19th century invention (Krueger, p. 34). The glass comets consist of a claw-like nucleus with a wavy, striated tail petering out obliquely downward to the left. The majority of these cylindrical beakers are fairly tall and slender; they are decorated either with three blue comets or four alternately blue and colorless ones. Comet-beakers were not luxury items, but made for everyday use.