Featured Decanter question?

Thank y'all for your help with my flask last week. This week, I'm sharing pictures of a decanter, also from my grandmother. She purchased it in Bronxville, NY, when they lived there in the 1930's.

I don't know what this style of silver overlay is called, but it's silver over blown glass. The only mark I could find on the decanter is shown in the photos, and says "995/1000 FINE SILVER"

The lock may or may not be original, but it's been with the flask since it was purchased. It's silver-plate, and says "A.E.DIETZ".

My questions are: What is this style called, and what is a rough estimate of it's value?

I assume, since it's engraved on the front, that it dates from 1902. Apparently it was a gift for a 25th annversary.

Incidentally, the liquid it contains is corn whiskey made in Tennessee in the 1950's. It's smooth, and still smells like fresh corn! Of course I keep it under lock and key.


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That’s a double struck mark, it’s actually 999 not 995, there also appears to be other weakly struck marks below that to the left and right.
Alvin is well known for overlay silver decanters.

 

I didnt even know I needed one of those,but now I do !

 

Also, is this decanter more properly used for liquor or liqueur or fortified wine?

 

The shape is a whiskey jug.
Because of the motif, I expect it held Rye Whiskey.

 

Ah! I didn't make that connection.

 

could this be called a tantalus bottle? Can a single bottle be a tantalus?

 

Lock, Lock - Lemme in!

Very nice, @Frank

 

Overlay is in the Art Nouveau style.

 

If I have my whiskeys right (I don't drink them) the color would off set the 'polished' sterling very nicely!!!!

 

I love the idea that it has corn liquor in it though - talk about a way to upscale moonshine!

 

This particular corn whiskey was made by a fellow named Noble Gray, in the early 1950's. When I knew him (lived next door to him for a few years), he gave me the last quart Mason jar full he had. When I inherited this decanter, I knew that Noble's whiskey deserved to go in it. This is what remains, and I treasure it.

 

Good place for it then.

 

Hi Mike
I think a tantalus is the case that locks the bottle(s) not the bottle itself. But I could be wrong.

 

It's a Jug......a fricken fancy jug at that !!!
The lock is a nice touch !!!
So Frank....we don't usually do Values...for a host of reasons......& in this case unless one can find a VERY similar item....or more than one that has sold or at least been offered......it will be next to impossible to arrive at a fair market value.

Saying that.......... it's now up to you to set a price you can live with !!!
Remember...on one hand a 'too high price', & folks will think your greedy & it'll never sell. On the other hand...a 'too low price'....& it'll be snapped up so fast yer head'll spin !!

 

As I was working my way down through the posts, I was getting ready to ask you whether the contents were inherited along with the vessel. I was intrigued by the notion of a couple in Bronxville having moonshine in such an upscale jug. I'm a little let down.

 

don't be....corn licker has a long and storied history too !!!

 

I dunno what’s goin on here

Bronxville is not in the Bronx and residents are, let's say, well-to-do. No doubt Prohibition did not impede the party scene there, but the image of them swigging corn likker straight from the jug amused me. Chug-a-lug.

 

Not a tantalus, as cluttered said that is a locked case for decanters. You can see them but not get at them, a torture just like the in the Greek myth of Tantalus. But a lock on a decanter serves the same purpose, keeping the servants from drinking the precious liquor. Or moonshine, in this case.

More on the original Tantalus:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalus