SOLD – Victorian Wine Merchants Double Magnum Flagon c1880

Description

With a capacity of 3.0 litres I’m unsure if this should be described as a double magnum or a jeroboam. As this was not intended for sparkling wines I believe that double magnum is correct.

CARLOWITZ AS SUPPLIED BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN together with coat of arms.

MAX GREGER & CO LONDON

WINE FLAGON

We have had to do a little research on this starting with “Carlowitz”. According to our local master of wine and viticulture guru ” ….is grown on the banks of the Danube in Hungary. Think “Cotes du Rhones Villages  with more body and less balance than reasonable claret” .  I can freely admit to being none the wiser  but it may be of some help to the wine buffs. Max Gregor was however quite an entrepeneurial wine importer. records show that he was importing Carlowitz by the barrel. not the bottle and was advertising this as “The Great Hungarian Claret” in March 1882.

http://www.hatads.org.uk/catalogue/record/1e61d392-7182-4b6c-9664-bfb76e703c8e  .

To obtain Royal patronage really must have been a feather in Max Gregor’s cap. the Queen’s head of household  will no doubt have sent the master cellarman to order wine by the barrel. The flagons were for the “slightly less well to do”  who would have purchased the flagon at one of Mr Gregor’s two outlets and had it re-filled upon demand. Charles Dickens “Dictionary of London” 1879 is always a standard “go to reference” when considering Victorian tradesmen in the city. Charles Dickens Jnr was the son of the great author and by all accounts lived in his shadow. however he wrote

Tradesmen.—Many visitors to London. amidst the wilderness of excellent shops for which the metropolis has so high a reputation. must often experience considerable difficulty in making a convenient and judicious selection No doubt a classified list of some of the principal firms should frequently be of great and obvious utility. The responsibility. however. of undertaking to compile such a list is. it will be readily seen. not one that the Editor of this work would safely or wisely undertake. It has. however. been thought that a list of the tradesmen of Her Majesty the Queen and of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales might in some measure answer the required purpose. Application was therefore made to the Lord Chamberlains office. and to the Controller of their Royal Highnesses households. and by the courtesy of the respective office we are enabled to append the following complete lists:

The list headed A. contains the tradesmen of Her Majesty and of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales distinguished respectively by an asterisk and a dagger

The list contains all manner of tradesmen and under wine merchants we have

WINE MERCHANTS – *Greger. Max. 2. Old Bond-st.

Old Bond Street was and still is one of the most prestigious retail venues in the world and with royal patronage for high margin “Hungarian Claret”. one can only assume that Max Gregor could afford the rents. Although Mr Gregor’s shop is no longer there and Carlowitz is “less popular” this superb flagon will still have its uses. If you are fortuitous enough to keep your own wines by the barrel in your cellar then look no further. The word flagon has derived from the French “Flacon” a flask or bottle. I have to admit to buying everyday wine in boxes and it is always good to let them breathe and a good claret jug. flask or serving bottle is acceptable on a dining table. wine boxes are not. This may also be used as a decanter if you have a large number of guests and wish to serve two bottles of wine. or more. simultaneously.

Original stopper. with no chips cracks or restoration. it measures approx 11 inches tall and 7 inches in diameter.