Glass Decanter?

Hi everyone

My Nan recently passed and she left us a few things. One being this pair of Decanters. She always told me they were very old but other than that I don't know anything about them, could anyone shed some light? Age? Value? History? What spirit they are for?

I have included 2 pictures, one stopper seems to be less round so I'm thinking it may not be original but the other seems round.

If you require any more photos please let me know. The bottom has no markings just a star like shape.

Ryan

 

The pictures are a bit cluttered with irrelevant objects but they look like pretty typical 20th C decanters. Star cut bases are typical. If the cutting is really sharp they are hand cut, softer edges and they may be moulded.

Not all that valuable because millions were made and they survive well. You'd use them for any spirit or fortified wine (Sherry, Port, etc) and that is why we have decanter labels.

 

@afantiques thanks for the reply. Would you know if this would be lead glass? I am reading that some older decanters would not be safe to store spirits in. I was planning on storing whiskey in it.

 

There is no chance whatsoever that the minute amount of lead in glass would do you any harm, certainly not more than whisky would by a country mile.

Some modern definitions of 'safe' are absurd, so extreme as to be a disservice to everyone. A huge parasitic industry has grown up based on scaring people who do not know any better.

 

Hi Af,
Amen brother. I should have been dead years ago and brain dead even longer. Oops perhaps I am brain damaged. I played with mercury for years and lead melting to make bullets and "silver dollars" even longer. Stripping woodwork with multilayers of lead based paint including four houses and numerous painted furniture. My levels of lead, mercury etc is non measurable, had it tested several times. Only played with asbestosis once. Stripped off 9" of the stuff on my heating ducts on a 3 story house.
greg

 

Sorry, I know nothing about your decanters, but I love your little toast rack!!!!
Sue

 

The bottle looks pressed to me a [hoto of the bottom would help with that. The stopper may or may not be original looks a better item than the bottle. I doubt is there is any lead content. The problem with lead transfer occurs with high acid beverages left in the container for a very long time. You likely get more lead breathing outside than you would from one of these made with lead in the formula.

 

Your bottles are lead crystal (absolutely NO danger to you) and are cut in a cane pattern.
They were made by many different glass makers.

I respectfully disagree with AF about the sherry wine and port.
These are the bottles that were used in Tantalus sets and held Gin, Whiskey, Bourbon, or Scotch.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tan...WIyAIVAymICh2CEwly&biw=1570&bih=1019&dpr=0.85

I agree with you, the stoppers may be replaced on them. Still usable.

 

If nothing else, old decanters make great vases. If you're worried about gunk on the inside, use dried or silk ones.

 

You can find decanter labels for sherry, madiera, port, shrub, etc. So they must have had decanters for them. You will also find decanter funnels to fill the things, usually in silver.

 

Yes you are correct. There are sherry wine, port and other labels for decanters. However, I believe the shape of the decanter is different for wines as opposed to whiskeys.

 

I have never heard of such a distinction, and it would rule out the use of a tantalus, where the bottles are always matched.

Of course, the idea could originate from someone with a mismatched set in a tantalus spinning a yarn about the bottles.

 

The bottles are nice ....but did she also leave you a box to go with them??
Then we'd have something here...!

 

@komokwa @George Nesmith no just the decanters no box! I have added a video showing them in more detail and tapping with fork, maybe someone could confirm whether they are glass or lead crystal or anything else

 

I still say lead crystal.

Do the cut stars on the bottoms of the decanters match?
If not, different makers, which might explain the stoppers.