A Sterling Silver Claret Decanter Label London 1794

Description

Heading : A claret decanter label or bottle ticket
Date : Hallmarked in London 1794 for Thomas Phipps and Edward Robinson
Period : George III
Origin : London England
Decoration : Reeded border
Size :  10cm from apex of chain to bottom of the label. 4.3cm x 2.1cm
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight : 9 grams

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.