Heading : 18th century cruciform decanter bottle
Date : c1740
Period : George II
Origin : England
Colour : Clear, grey blue hue
Neck : Quadruple annulated neck ring or string ring
Body : Modified Criciform
Pontil : Snapped    
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 21cm tall
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight : 1245 grams

Cruciform decanters were never stoppered with glass, they were corked. They may also have been intended for sparkling wines and cider. The latter may undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation in the bottle to yield some effervescence. This may account for the thick glass and sturdy nature of cruciform decanters. The string ring on a cruciform in the context of sparkling wines is therefore analgous to those found on wine bottles, a device to which string could be bound in order to restrain a cork. 

This is the largest example we have seen.

References :

The Decanter an Illustrated history of glass from 1650 By Andy McConnell – Page 68 Plate 93.

English Bottles and Decanters 1650 – 1900 By Derek C. Davis – Page 36 Plate 16.

Glass Collectors and their Collections in Museums in Great Britain – Page 47 Figure 13.

The Golden Age of English Glass By Dwight P. Lanmon - Page 282 Plate 97.