SPOTLIGHT ON - Decanters; Part I : 18th, 19th Century

Although decanters have always been in demand due to their central role in home entertaining throughout the centuries, interest in collecting and using antique decanters has piqued in recent years, thanks the renewed introduction of bar furniture into our homes through designated liquor cabinets, bar trolleys or glamorous gilded trays with sparkling serving ware. This is helped by a burgeoning liquor industry with many interesting new labels.

The widespread use of decanters dates back to at least the Middle Ages, when wines such as port, claret and ales were stored in unwieldy wooden barrels, heavy stoneware bottles, and leather skins. For the upper classes, pouring or scooping directly from these bulk containers to a cup or goblet would have been unacceptable, so decanters served the role as an intermediate container. Furthermore, these decanters allowed for sedimentary wines to leave their sediments behind when poured, allowing clear liquid to be served at the table. By the 17th century, blown-glass decanters began to be known as “shaft and globes.” The term soon also encompassed decorative serving bottles for non-sedimentary drinks, such as spirits and sweet cordials

The Venetians led the way in glass decanters, but glassmakers in Germany, England, Spain, Scandinavia, and Bohemia also made important contributions to the form. Some of the most identifiable decanter shapes include: the long-necked and bulbous-bodied shaft and globe; the straight and slope-sided mallet; shouldered; bell; barrel or club; and spouted and handled. Some decanters have metal mounts attached to their outsides made of gold, silver or other metals. These mounts give decanters feet, handles, and fittings for stoppers. Some are purely decorative, as in the chased and pierced silver mounts that adorn some decanters like frilly skirts.

Stopper shapes, including the lozenge, the bull’s eye, the mushroom, and the ball, are equally diverse, and can be plain, cut or engraved, often to match the decoration or lack of it on the body of the decanter. Decorations, including colored rather than clear glass, are tremendously varied depending on the trends at the time. Georgian époque decanter bodies are plain, with cut or engraved decoration, such as diamond patterns and classical or floral motifs, largely confined to necks and shoulders. Thereafter, cutting and engraving became more extensive and intricate, especially during the Victorian era. Vessels allow for about .94 liters of liquid, the more common size, or 1.5 liters, the rarer “magnum” size.

Decanters were produced by some of the most respected glassmakers of the last couple of centuries, including Moser, Baccarat, Gallé, Lalique, Val Saint Lambert and Saint Louis.

At Patine we have a wide selection of antique European decanters decorated in a huge array of styles, only some of which are featured online. If you are interested in any of the pieces below, or would like to view our entire decanter collection, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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