Sterling Silver Burgundy Decanter Label London 1823

Description

Heading : A cast and pierced burgundy decanter label
Date : Hallmarked in London 1823 for John Reily
Period : George IV
Origin :London. England
Decoration : Cast shells and acanthus leaves. pierced panel “Burgundy”
Size :  11.5cm from apex of chain to botton of label. width 6.0 cm
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight :  21grams ( 0.65 troy)

The terms decanter label and bottle ticket must be synonymous. I was told  many years ago that “bottle tickets” were put around the necks of wine bottles as they carried no paper labels. This makes sense as Port for example is invariably decanted and would be easily mistaken at first glance for red wine. and white port for Sauternes or Muscat.

There are newspaper and gazette advertisements for “labels for bottles” in the 1770s and 1780s but these are replaced by “wine labels” and “decanter labels” by 1790.

Wine bottles were refilled. sealed bottles were made for the owner to use repeatedly and were filled by a wine merchant. The “bottle ticket” was used to denote the contents when the bottle was taken to a dining room.

It may be the case that the more elaborate labels were intended for decanters as they would be presented at table. It is however the case that he same label or ticket could be hung around the neck of a bottle or taper decanter.

Bourgogne wines. red and white. tend to be dry and carry little sediment they would still benefit from decanting ( the best known method for improving any bottle of wine) and this elaborate label is most probably a decanter label rather than a bottle ticket