The earliest decanters date from the late seventeenth century and were made from blown moulded glass. They were used to serve wine at a time when there was a move towards less formal dining procedures and the reduced reliance on servants and waiters. The 1745 Excise Tax caused manufacturers to make decanters lighter in weight. The tax benefited the industry in Ireland where it did not apply. When the tax was repealed in 1845, a heavier gauge was reverted to. In the second half of the eighteenth century blue, green and amethyst coloured decanters were made. Decanters often sat on silver bottle coasters with baize bases (some even on castors) and could be 'pushed' around the dining table without making scratches or requiring serving staff.

12 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A Victorian hand painted glass decanter, bird & floral detail

A Victorian hand painted glass decanter, bird & floral detail

German silver glass decanters, pair of exotic bird finials,…

German silver glass decanters, pair of exotic bird finials, hallmarked 800 by Francis Melimalta with twined handle and star cut base height 26.5 cm

A zoomorphic cockatoo glass decanter with silver plated bronze…

19th Century Cockatoo Glass Decanter with Silver Mounts

A zoomorphic cockatoo glass decanter with silver plated bronze mounts, 19th century, 26 cm high

A collection of silver plate wine vessels, 20th century, a…

Silver Plate Wine Vessels with Claret Jug and Duck Decanters

A collection of silver plate wine vessels, 20th century, a claret jug of typical tapering form with a silver plate collar and domed lid, and a pair of duck shaped decanters with moulded bodies and curvaceous handles to the backs, unmarked, 29 cm high and…

A glass and silvered metal wine decanter in the form of a duck,…

Duck-shaped Wine Decanter

A glass and silvered metal wine decanter in the form of a duck, 26 cm high

A silver plate and glass bodied wine decanter, stylised bird…

Stylised Bird Wine Decanter

A silver plate and glass bodied wine decanter, stylised bird form. Height 25 cm

An Italian novelty 925 silver and enamel duck form decanter,…

Italian Enamel Duck Decanter in 925 Silver, 20th Century

An Italian novelty 925 silver and enamel duck form decanter, 20th century, the textured finished silver mounts coloured in enamel, mounting shaped glass body, marked 925, 27.5 cm high

Edwardian glass & brass figural owl decanter having a hinged…

Edwardian Owl Decanter with Hinged Head and Glass Eyes

Edwardian glass & brass figural owl decanter having a hinged head & glass eyes. Condition: good, minor wear to the base. Length 24 cm

A silver plated and glass bird decanter, 24 cm high

Silver Plated Glass Bird Decanter - 24cm

A silver plated and glass bird decanter, 24 cm high

A silverplate mounted glass cockatoo decanter, Australian, 19th…

19th Century Australian Glass Cockatoo Decanter with Silver Mounting

A silverplate mounted glass cockatoo decanter, Australian, 19th century, 26 cm high

A silver-plate mounted bird form glass decanter, English, late…

Silver-plate Bird Glass Decanter, Late 19th Century

A silver-plate mounted bird form glass decanter, English, late 19th century. 25 cm high

Glass novelty bird decanter, early 20th century

Early 20th Century Glass Bird Decanter

Glass novelty bird decanter, early 20th century