Unknown American
Decanter

Public Domain

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Maker Unknown American

CultureAmerican

Titles

Decanter

Datec. 1825–1840

Made inUnited States

MediumLead glass

Dimensions10 15/16 × 4 1/2 in. (27.8 × 11.4 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Mr. and Mrs. I.C. Kerridge

Object numberB.2001.4.A,.B

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

GLASS

DescriptionTo make this decanter, the glassblower used an iron mold to impress the pattern on the glass as it expanded. The label on this example is molded “WINE” into the side of the decanter. Others in this pattern are known bearing the labels “BRANDY,” “GIN,” “RUM,” and “WHISKEY.” The practice of labeling decanters dates from the mid-eighteenth century and persisted well into the nineteenth. The name of the liquor could be engraved, enameled, or gilded directly on the glass, or identified by a ticket suspended from the decanter's neck by a chain.
Provenance[Fenchell Basmaiian Antiques, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2001.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Molded on body: WINE

[no marks]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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