M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES & FINE ARTS
 
 

GEORGIAN SILVER "BOTTLE TICKETS"

 

 

 

"BOTTLE TICKETS"

(another name for Wine, Spirits & Condiment Labels)

 

During the Restoration (1660-1685) in England, a fashion for decanting wine arose. 

Wine was stored in the cellar, where it was  decanted into very dark rudimentary glass bottles,

sometimes known as "black onion" bottles.

Paper labels were tied to the bottle necks for proper wine identification at the table. 

With the emergence of the clear glass decanters in England c1730, more elegant "bottle tickets",

also known as wine and decanter labels, first appeared.  

These took various shapes - most being slightly curved to conform to the  decanter's shape,

and suspended from a belcher chain.  Another popular category is the circular neck ring or collar. 

These labels were  engraved or pierced with a multitude of names of wines, cordials, spirits, and condiments.

Most were made of silver or Old Sheffield  Plate, although enamels, abalone, pottery and ivory were also frequently used

As small and of light in weight, many silver tickets remain  unmarked until 1790. 

Few bottle tickets were made after the 1850's,

as a result of the Licensing Act of 1860, requiring merchants to label  bottles before sale. 

 

For an excellent history of bottle tickets, see The Book of the Wine Label, by Norman Penzer, 1947.

 

From a purely sensory point of view,

there are few ways to enjoy wine more than to pour it into a good clear glass decanter,

place a silver bottle ticket about the neck, and a silver coaster below.

Choices run from the simple (as on this page) to the more sophisticated engraved, armorials,.

and neck rings (a few selections on the linked page below).

The richness of colors and textures merges the visual experience 

with that of aroma and taste, restoring "ritual" to a simple glass of wine - no matter the cost. 

 

If the wine is then taken from an antique glass - with a history of its own -

the experience transforms the ritual even further.

You are, after all, doing something that has been done, perhaps for centuries,

from the same vessel for pleasure, solace,

thirst, celebration - who knows what? 

The history is all still there.

 

Please Inquire  

 

 


 

Verso, Descriptions & Prices of the Above Pictured Bottle Tickets :

 

 

 

GEORGE III SILVER BOTTLE TICKET - LISBON (left)

Thomas Phipps & Edward Robinson, London, 1806

 

Of rectangular canted form with a reeded edge, engraved "LISBON", suspended from a silver belcher chain

Condition: Excellent, crisp marks

1.5" Long / 1.3 oz.

 

162.50

#2189

 


 

GEORGE III SILVER BOTTLE TICKET - SHERRY (right)

Thomas Phipps & Edward Robinson, London, 1810

 

Of rectangular canted form with a reeded edge, incised "SHERRY", suspended from a silver belcher chain 

Condition: Excellent, crisp marks

1.75" Long / .2 oz

 

150.00

#6076

 


 

 

RARE GEORGE III PROVINCIAL SILVER BOTTLE TICKET - MADEIRA(left)

Landlands and Robertson, Newcastle, c1790

 

Of rectangular form with canted corners and reeded borders, incised "MADEIRA",

 suspended from a silver belcher chain

 Condition: Excellent, crisp marks

.3 oz. / 2" Long

 

165.00

#6363

 


 

GEORGE III SILVER BOTTLE TICKET - MADEIRA (middle)

John Robins, London, 1815

 

Of elongated oval form with finely reeded edge, engraved "MADEIRA", suspended from a silver belcher chain

Condition: Excellent; crisp marks

1.75" Long / .5 oz.

 

165.00

#3676

 


 

GEORGE III SILVER BOTTLE TICKET - BRANDY(left)

John Robins, London, 1791

 

Of rectangular form with canter corners and reeded borders, incised "BRANDY",  suspended from a silver belcher chain

  Condition: Excellent, good marks

.2 oz. / 1-5/8" Long

 

165.00

#6365

 

 


 

Please Inquire 

 

Also See :

 

 

Top Row and Bottom Center :

18th & Early 19th Century British Silver "Neck-Ring" Bottle Tickets, & "Collar"

 and

Good Irish Silver Bottle Ticket, "Sherry", Benjamin Tait, Dublin, c1790

 

Bottom Left :

Good Pair George III Irish Silver Bottle Tickets, John Stoyte, Dublin, c1788,

"Sherry" & "Port"

 

Bottom Right :

Good Pair George III Silver Bottle Tickets, "W. Wine" & "Port"

John Brockwell, London,1811

 

Click images or text for linked pages

 

 

 

 

Click to view our "SPIRITS & WINE" :

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

We welcome and encourage all inquiries regarding our stock.  We will make every attempt to answer any questions you might have.

 

For information, call (901) 761-1163 or (901) 827-4668, or

Email : mfcreech@bellsouth.net  or  mfordcreech@gmail.com
 
 

American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover accepted

 

 

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M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts / 581 South Perkins Road /  Memphis, TN 38117 / USA /  Wed.-Sat. 11-6, or by appointment

 


 

 

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Georgian Silver Bottle Tickets (Wine Labels), on neck rings and belcher chain